SC nullifies Comelec ruling vs ex-Dinagat Islands governor

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has overturned a decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prosecuting former Dinagat Islands governor Glenda Ecleo for overspending during the 2010 elections.

The high tribunal said the Comelec violated Ecleo’s constitutional right to a speedy disposition of her case.

In a decision dated April 26, the SC granted Ecleo’s petition for certiorari, wherein the defendant argued that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it ordered the filing of election charges against her.

The high court found the Comelec guilty of inordinate delay in the conduct of preliminary investigation as the charge was filed seven years after the complaint was initiated.

The SC said the poll body committed a “flagrant violation of its own internal rules of procedure” when it ordered the filing of charges against Ecleo.

Ecleo filed a petition before the SC after the Comelec ordered her charged for alleged violation of election laws on campaign spending in 2021.

The poll body said Ecleo exceeded her campaign expenditure limit as provided under the law.

Ecleo spent P230,000, which the Comelec said was P18,941 more than the allowable threshold of P211,059.

The SC nullified the Comelec resolution and dismissed the case against Ecleo.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh and concurred in by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and the rest of the magistrates.

Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando, who was on leave, and Antonio Kho, a Comelec commissioner from 2018 to 2022, took no part in the resolution.