Comelec seeks to move Poe oral arguments to earlier date

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has filed a motion before the Supreme Court seeking to move the oral arguments on the disqualification case of Sen. Grace Poe at an earlier date, which was originally set to commence a day before the finalization of the ballot.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the poll body wanted to adjust the oral arguments from Jan. 20 to Jan. 14 in order to stick to their timetable.

“Wala kaming ginigipit, wala kaming binubully. Alam niyo naman ang aming timeline. May 9 is an immovable feast,” Bautista told reporters in a press briefing.

”Gusto nating siguraduhin na ang lahat ng paghahanda ay according to our schedule. We would like to stick to our timeline,” he said.

Bautista said they want the high court to come up with a decision on Poe’s case as soon as possible to avoid delays in other election-related activities.

”Many of our activities are linked to each other.’Pag ang activity ‘di mo ginagawa on time, it will impact other activities down the road,” he said.

The chairman said a swift ruling by the Supreme Court will be “beneficial to all parties,” noting that even Poe’s camp wants the issue to be resolved as soon as possible.

”Maganda kasi kung madi-disqualify, matanggal na agad sa balota… We are four months away from the elections, and every day counts. Kung pwedeng ma-expedite, sana ma-expedite,” he added.

The high court has issued temporary restraining orders against the Comelec’s ruling to cancel Poe’s certificate of candidacy over citizenship and residency issues.