Comelec urges public to bring election complaints to proper forum

Comelec logo superimposed on the picture of its headquarters in Manila. INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the public Thursday to bring election-related complaints to the proper forum — instead of going to rallies — so they can be investigated.

In a press briefing, Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco was asked about a petition filed in Cotabato City to declare a failure of elections there.

“Ito po yung sinasabi namin sa ating mga kababayan. Mayroon pong mga proseso sa Comelec rules of procedure at suppletorily applicable ang ating rules of court,” Laudiangco said.

(This is what we are telling our countrymen. The Comelec has rules of procedure and we also have the rules of court.)

“Kung may ganyang mga situation, we welcome that so we could investigate, we could hear, and we could try the case based on evidence and most importantly, our Commission en banc would decide on the merits,” he added.

(If there are situations like that, we welcome that so we could investigate, we could hear, and we could try the case based on evidence and most importantly, our Commission en banc would decide on the merits.)

Laudiangco said bringing complaints to proper venues would be better than engaging in rallies that may cause chaos.

“Mas maganda po yung ganito. So kung meron po sa ating mga kababayan, kaysa tayo ay magrally na baka sakali po na pagmulan pa ng kaguluhan at samaan ng loob, pumasok po tayo sa proseso,” Laudiangco said.

(This would be better. Instead of going to rallies where it could lead to chaos, let’s just follow the process.)

“Puntahan po natin ang tamang forum para ma-ventilate yung issues na ganito (Let’s go to the right venue to ventilate issues like these),” he added.

Around 400 people assembled near the main office of the Comelec in Intramuros on Tuesday as the canvassing of votes was ongoing.

Members of groups Gabriela, Selda, Piston, Kabataan Party-list, Anakpawis, and Kilusang Mayo Uno converged to protest the alleged unpreparedness of Comelec in the conduct of this year’s national and local elections and demand clean and honest polls.

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