Let Comelec rule on petition seeking to reopen COC filing, says Cusi

FILE Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi

MANILA, Philippines — Let the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rule on the petition seeking to reopen the certificate of candidacy (COC) filing, a faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) affiliated with President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

“The PDP Laban, as a political party, is only exercising its rights under the election laws. Let the Comelec rule on the petition based on legal arguments/merits. Let us not focus on naysayers dwelling on conjectures and name-calling,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.

Cusi sits as president of the Duterte wing of PDP-Laban. The other faction is allied with presidential aspirant, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

“The petition is based on a constitutional precept on the exercise of suffrage. And as a consequence, it is also imploring on the Comelec to resolve all issues before the ballots are printed,” the group continued.

The Cusi wing recently asked the Comelec to reopen the COC filing, claiming that the weeklong lodging of bids last October 1 to 8 was “unreasonable, unnecessary and legally impossible.”

Poll watchdog Kontra Daya and PDP-Laban Vice Chairman Lutgardo Barbo, among others, criticized the move, calling on the Comelec to ignore the petition.

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