Comelec ordered to comment on PDP-Laban plea vs SOCE extension

The Supreme Court ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday to comment on the petition filed against them by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), challenging the poll body’s decision to extend the deadline for the submission of the Liberal Party’s statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).

In a press briefing, SC spokesman Theodore Te said Comelec is being given 10 days to comment on the petition for certiorari filed by PDP-Laban, the party chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The 22-page petition, filed last July 5 by incoming House Speaker and PDP-Laban secretary general Pantaleon Alvarez, asked the SC to void Comelec Resolution No. 10147, which extended the Liberal Party’s deadline for the submission of their SOCE from June 8 to June 30.

READ: Duterte’s PDP-Laban asks SC to void resolution extending SOCE deadline

PDP-Laban said Comelec violated Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 or the synchronized election law, which states that every candidate or treasurer of a political party must submit the SOCE within 30 days after the election.

PDP-Laban is the second party to file a petition against the Comelec resolution. The first petition, filed by 1-Abilidad part-list, was dismissed by the high court due to technicalities. Jaehwa Bernardo, INQUIRER.net trainee/JE/rga

READ: Comelec to defer to SC on Soce