Cortes’ running mate still hoping he can run

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy of dismissed Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede remains hopeful that his running mate can still vie for the mayoralty post in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.

Bercede said that he remains optimistic since the case is still pending before the Supreme Court.

“I am hopeful nga makadagan. Supreme Court is the highest court of the land mao ng naglaom lang ta nga basin og (paboran), mao nay giingon nga hopeful,” Bercede told reporters yesterday.

Cortes is seeking the mayoralty post, with Bercede as his vice mayor.

Bercede also reminded their supporters to remain “calm” while waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision. He urged them not to keep posting on social media or engaging with any comments, noting that there are already many “trolls”.

“Mandauehanons let us be calm. Hulat lang ta dili lang ta mag sige’g post dinha sa social media kung unsay mabutang dinha kay daghan kaayo’g mga trolls dinha, both sides naay mga trolls,” said Bercede.

Bercede said he will just wait for the decision of the Supreme Court and see what comes out, as he believes that the final judgment will come from the highest court.

“Final siguro sa Comelec, sa Comelec lang, pero naa pay higher court nga madaganan nato,” said Bercede.

To recall, the Comelec en banc recently issued a Certificate of Finality in the case of Cortes, rejecting his motion for reconsideration and affirming the decision to cancel his COC.

With the entry of judgment, the Comelec en banc declared that Cortes is out of the race for Mandaue City mayor.

Cortes’ COC status

Comelec-7 regional director Francisco Pobe confirmed that Cortes’ COC is already cancelled, citing the issuance of a certificate of finality.

“On the part of the Comelec, wala na siya kay naa namay finality,” said Pobe in an interview yesterday.

Pobe also said that even though Cortes filed a petition before the Supreme Court, whether or not the highest court rules in their favor, the Comelec has already made a final decision through its en banc ruling to cancel his Certificate of Candidacy.

He also said that there have been previous cases where the Comelec proceeded despite other decisions and resolutions related to the case, and in those instances, the decision was upheld, resulting in the candidate being excluded.

Pobe’s statement was contrary to his own statement when The FREEMAN confirmed the status of Cortes’ candidacy given the petition he filed with the Supreme Court last Wednesday, January 2, 2025.

Pobe said on June 4, 2025 that Cortes will remain a candidate, despite the commission’s final judgment, unless the Supreme Court issues a decision denying Cortes’ COC.

“The case pending by reason of appeal to Supreme Court means his COC will be on status quo,” said Pobe then, adding that Cortes still has the chance to run for mayor, as his case remains pending before the Supreme Court.

To recall, Cortes filed a petition for certiorari which includes an application for the “Extremely Urgent Issuance of a Status Quo Ante Order and Urgent Motion for the Conduct of Special Raffle”. Cortes also filed for a Status Quo Ante Order and a Temporary Restraining Order to block the Comelec resolution canceling his COC for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.

Printing

Pobe said that with the Certificate of Finality issued by the Comelec en banc, Cortes’ candidacy has been officially cancelled. Yet, he noted that they will see whether or not Cortes' name will still appear on the ballot.

“I will have to check if maapil pa ba siya kay mag-release pa man ang Manila sa official list of candidates nga maapil sa template sa balota,” said Pobe.

Pobe said that anytime this week, his office will find out who will be included in the official ballot for the election.

Pobe clarified that Comelec has already issued the finality declaring Cortes' candidacy cancelled. But as to whether Cortes will be included in the official ballot, Pobe said they will wait and see what the final results will be based on the template that will be released by Comelec.

Tranparency

Comelec chairman George Garcia assured transparency at the start of the printing of ballots for the national and local elections this May at the National Printing Office in Quezon City yesterday.

Garcia stressed that ballots are the most important document in an election and printing it ahead of time is necessary so that it can be delivered as scheduled.

After printing and verification, it will be shipped out to different regions.

“The Comelec will do everything just to ensure that all supplies, all forms are ready for the time na dapat andyan na ang ating halalan,” Garcia said yesterday.

More to it, he reiterated their commitment to transparency.

“The Commission on Election will always be transparent,” Garcia said. The entire printing process will be live streamed by the Comelec “for everybody to see.”

Garcia said the printing of ballot in itself is a proof that elections, including that of BARMM, is pushing through.

The Comelec started printing the local absentee and overseas ballots and that for BARMM yesterday, while today will be for the different regions so that the final lists of candidates will already be checked and verified.

“Paano kung may ma didisqualify o nadidisqualify? Yung mga naging final and executory na decision, lahat sila, wala na ang pangalan sa listahan at wala nang pangalan sa mga balota,” Garcia said.

In line with this, Garcia said that should there be new developments in relation to this, they assured to do something although he also said, he will not discuss it yet in length so us not to influence the Supreme Court’s decision.

“If something will happen, something will be issued, then we will be doing something... or hindi na muna naming sasagutin ang bagay sa katanungan na yan para naman upang kahit papano hindi magkaron ng pressure or impluwensya sa Kataas-taas na Hukuman… But the Comelec will always find a way,” Garcia said. — (FREEMAN)