Palace mum on Poe comment that Comelec is in disarray

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is leaving it to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to respond to Sen. Grace Poe’s claim that the poll body is in disarray.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. noted that the Comelec had announced a plan to meet to discuss the alleged unauthorized filing of comment on petitions seeking to disqualify Poe in the presidential race.

“Comelec is an independent constitutional body and it would be better if we wait for the results of their discussion,” Coloma told state-run radio station dzRB on Saturday.

“In our view, the stability of Comelec is important especially now that the election period has started,” he added.

Earlier, Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, called on Comelec Chair Andres Bautista “to put the house in order” following reports that the poll body chief is taking to task two of his officials for filing a comment before the Supreme Court without clearance.

Gatchalian also urged Bautista to probe Guanzon’s action to ensure that the Comelec remains impartial.

Bautista has asked Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon and Law Department Director Norina Casingal to explain the filing of the comment, which urged the high court to lift its temporary restraining order on the poll body’s decision to disqualify Poe from the presidential race.

Comelec has disqualified Poe from the 2016 elections because of citizenship and residency issues.

Bautista said the filing was “irregular” and “disrespectful” as other members of the poll body were not given the opportunity to review the comment.

Responding to Bautista’s statements, Guanzon said as a commissioner, she is not a subordinate or employee of the poll chief and he has no administrative supervision over her.

Guanzon claimed that the Comelec en banc permitted her to represent the commission in oral arguments. She said Bautista cannot do the same because he had a dissenting opinion on the issue.

Comelec, Guanzon added, did not require that all commissioners have to review or approve the comment before it is filed because of urgency.