‘Comelec oppressed nobody,’ poll body tells SC in plea to affirm Poe’s DQ

SAYING it has not oppressed anybody from its decisions, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked the Supreme Court to affirm its decision cancelling the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Senator Grace Poe.

In a 48-page comment, the Comelec also asked the high court to lift the restraining order against the implementation of their decision.

Last December 2015, the Comelec en banc, in a vote of 5-1-1, upheld the decision of its Second Division that granted the petition filed by Atty. Estrella Elamparo which sought the cancellation of Poe’s COC on the ground of her failure to meet the constitutional requirement of a 10-year residency for presidential aspirants.

Poe went to the Supreme Court and challenged the decision. The high court issued a restraining order against the Comelec ruling.

“The Comelec oppressed nobody when it rendered the assailed resolution. The assailed resolution has been promulgated in a justiciable case and sets forth therein clearly and distinctly the facts and the constitutional provisions, law and applicable jurisprudence on which it is based. In that sense, it speaks for itself,” the Comelec said.

Comelec pointed out that those who seek elective public office, especially the Office of the President, must be compliant with the eligibility requirements under the Constitution.

“To disqualify the petitioner who is reportedly among the front runners in the 2016 presidential race was not an easy task, to say the least. But the Comelec will not shirk from its bounden duty and constitutional mandate to conduct clean, orderly, honest and credible elections,” Comelec told the high court.