‘Guest member’ to join Comelec’s 2nd division in case of split vote on Marcos DQ case

Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — A “guest member” of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will step in if the poll body’s second division will end up having a split vote on the petition that seeks to cancel Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s candidacy for president, according to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

“There will be a guest member, so to speak, of the division,” Jimenez said in an online press briefing when asked what will be done if the second division, composed of two member-commissioners, will end up with a split vote.

The petition, filed last November 2, asserts that Marcos is not eligible to run for any public office since the Quezon City Regional Trial Court convicted him in 1995 for his failure to file income tax returns. The petition has been raffled to the Comelec’s second division, composed of two commissioners.

Jimenez earlier said that summons for the petition is expected within the week.

“I think today or tomorrow baka ma-issue ‘yung summons [the summons may be issued]. After the summons, they will have five days to file an answer. After the answer has been filed, the Comelec will issue a notice for a pre-conference meeting, and the pre-conference meeting will be attended by the counsel of the respondent and petitioner,” he also said in the briefing.

“After that, they will be given three days to submit their respective memoranda, following which the case will be considered submitted for resolution,” he added.

A second petition seeking to void the candidacy of Marcos was also filed on Monday, echoing the points raised by the first group of petitioners.

JPV