Keep calm, Palace asks Poe, Duterte supporters

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday urged supporters of presidential candidates to remain “calm and reasonable” in the face of a warning by a former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair of a possible suspension of elections if the Supreme Court fails to act on disqualification cases against Sen. Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“We hope that the supporters of the candidates will always be calm and would use reason at all times,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press conference.

On Tuesday, former Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Supreme Court must be able to decide on the cases filed against Poe and Duterte—two of the leading presidential candidates according to surveys—before the official campaign period begins on Feb. 9.

Otherwise, Brillantes warned, it would be chaotic and a suspension of elections could even be possible, but not a no-election scenario.

The Comelec said that Poe’s name would be on the 2016 ballot until the Comelec decision to disqualify her became final and executory. Poe has elevated the Comelec’s decision before the Supreme Court.

Duterte, on the other hand, is facing three disqualification cases before the Comelec. The poll body has yet to decide on the petitions filed against Duterte.

The Aquino administration is one with the Filipinos in their desire for a credible and orderly elections, Coloma said. Nikko Dizon