COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Arthur Lim clarified that the petition of Senator Grace Poe being heard by the Supreme Court is not the reason why the poll body has moved back the printing of ballots.
In the third oral argument, Lim admitted that the Comelec has not yet decided on the disqualification case against another presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The disqualification case against Duterte is still with the Comelec’s first division.
“Seems the public is of the impression that this is the only case that is pending [and] that is holding the Comelec from printing the ballot, is that accurate?” Associate Justice Marvic Leonen asked to which Lim said such observation is not accurate due to the pending case of Duterte.
Atty. Estrella Elamparo, one of the petitioners in the disqualification case of Poe asked the Supreme Court to conduct a daily oral argument on the case due to time constraints.
Leonen noted that the petition gave the impression that it was the high court that is the reason why Comelec delayed the printing of ballots.