SC asked to reverse dismissal of case vs SOCE deadline extension
Retired Army Col. Justino Padiernos of the People’s Freedom Party and lawyer Manuelito Luna of 1-Abilidad party-list on Friday asked the Supreme Court to reverse its decision dismissing their case against the extension given by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of the deadline to submit the statement of contribution and expenditures (SOCE) for the recently concluded May 9 general polls.
READ: SC junks petition seeking to void Comelec extension of SOCE deadline
In their motion for reconsideration, petitioners said they have submitted the required documents although belatedly because the Comelec has released its resolution after they have already filed their petition before the high court.
Petitioners said initially, they have relied on news reports because Comelec has announced its decision even before the actual resolution was promulgated.
“I cannot understand the rationalization of the SC (Supreme Court) in dismissing the petition. Records show that the petitioners have submitted the certified copy of the assailed resolution of the Comelec. I hope the Court of last resort is not playing politics here,” Luna said.
“The SC should check its record since we have the evidence of the submission and filing of the resolution,” he added.
In their petition, the two said the high court should stop the poll body from implementing its order extending the deadline from June 8 to June 30 as mandated under Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized Local and National Elections and Electoral Reforms Act.
READ: SC asked to nullify Comelec decision to extend SOCE deadline
The petitioners said there is no substantive justification or reason for the poll body to disregard the “final and non-extendible deadline” for the filing of the SOCE.
The Comelec extended the SOCE filing deadline to accommodate the request of the Liberal Party and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the petitioners added.
They also argued that extending the deadline was in violation of and was an “impermissible amendment” of the law, particularly Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 (Omnibus Election Code) and Section 2, Rule 10 of Resolution 9991, which requires candidates and parties to file their SOCEs within 30 days after the elections or by June 8, 2016, regardless of whether they won or lost. RAM/rga
