SC to hear arguments on constitutionality of DoJ-Comelec panel

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court will resume hearing the arguments on the constitutionality of the Department of Justice (DOJ)-Commission on Elections (COMELEC) panel that filed charges of electoral sabotage against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before a local court.

Solicitor-General Jose Anselmo Cadiz will argue on behalf of the government.

Arroyo has been put under hospital arrest because of her health condition. he Pasay regional trial court Branch 112 where the case has been filed issued the warrant.

In a petition before the Supreme Court in November, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo asked that “all the acts so far performed by Respondent JointCommittee, as well as all proceedings emanating and arising therefrom”, including the filing of the electoral sabotage case before the Pasay Court be declared null and void by the Supreme Court.
including the prosecution of the electoral sabotage case filed against his wife former President, now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“It was evident that the Joint Committee intended to rig and railroad the preliminary investigation of the subject Electoral Sabotage Case to deprive herein Petitioner, and his co-respondents, of the right to secure effective relief from this Honorable Court, by unjustifiably precipitating the case and making inutile any injunctive relief that Petitioner may be able to secure,” the petition stated.

Respondents in the petition include Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes as heads of the joint committee.