Comelec under extreme pressure on Poe’s DQ case

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes confirmed that the commission is under extreme pressure in deciding the cases for disqualification of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.

Speaking to reporters in a forum in Quezon City, Brillantes said unlike in the 2004 elections involving Poe’s father, movie star Fernando Poe Jr. who also faced disqualification cases, the Comelec then “was more relaxed.”

“Mas relaxed lang sila noon, ngayon masyadong mahigpit tingin ko (They were more relaxed then but now they are a bit rigid),” he said.

The Comelec, then headed by Chairman Benjamin Abalos, both in the division level and en banc, upheld Poe’s candidacy and dismissed the disqualification cases filed against him.

While he did not say where the pressure is coming from, Brillantes said the Comelec “is more liberal to mar the 2016 elections”.

Brillantes noted the Comelec could easily dispose of the disqualification cases against Poe because the issues are quite simple and it is ultimately the Supreme Court (SC) which will finally resolve the petitions.

“Dapat mas relaxed sila at ipaubaya na lang nila sa taas kasi hindi naman sila ang final arbiter, (They should be more relaxed. They should let the higher authority decide the case since they are not the final arbiter).

If he were still heading the poll body, Brilliantes said he would tell the commissioners to “just relax” and resolve the issues since either way, the cases will be elevated to the SC.

He expressed optimism, however, that the first Division of Comelec, which has yet to issue a resolution on the three pending cases for disqualification against Poe, will resolve the cases independently.

“Commissioners Christian Lim and Luie Tito F. Guia, these two are independent thinkers. So palagay ko reresolbahin nila yan kung ano ang tama (I think they will resolve it justly). Commissioner (Rowena) Guanzon although may nagsasabi na malapit kay (presidential aspirant Mar) Roxas, she has been confirmed already, I think she will act independently (Commissioner Guanzon although some say she is close to presidential aspirant Mar Roxas will act independently),” Brillantes added.

Lim, Guia and Guanzon are members of the Comelec First Division.

“If both divisions resolve the cases differently and a deadlock of 3 to 3 is reached, it is Chairman Andres Bautista who will resolve it,’’ he said.

Brillantes then urged the Comelec to resolve the cases immediately including the disqualification of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte since there are still many aspects of the elections that the poll body has to address.