Pimentel worried by Guanzon’s ‘objectivity’

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he is “worried” about the “objectivity” of Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon.

Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, pointed out how Guanzon conducted herself during the oral arguments on a disqualification case filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor against the party’s standard-bearer in 2016, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: DQ case raised as Duterte files COC in Comelec

“Si Guanzon kasi, I have personal experience with her. Nakita ko rin sya sa hearing namin kay Duterte e. At ako mismo worried ako sa kanyang objectivity,” the senator said on Tuesday when sought for comment on the squabbling at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

(With Guanzon, I have personal experience with her [in the court]. I saw her in our hearing with Duterte. Personally, I am worried about her objectivity.)

“I attended the oral arguments noon kasi ni Castor against Duterte. She (Guanzon) was very interested in the novel idea, novel approach, new idea of Atty. (Oliver) Lozano e. Kung interesado ka sa novel idea na wala naman sa rules nyo, i discuss, i brain storm nyo sa en banc ninyo so that you can improve your rules but you don’t entertain a case na wala sa rules ninyo just because you’re interested in that case,” he said.

(If you are interested in a novel idea that is not in the rules, you discuss and brainstorm en banc so that you can improve your rules…)

Lozano is the lawyer of Castor, who is seeking to disqualify Duterte from the 2016 presidential race since the CoC of the original candidate of the PDP-Laban, Martin Diño, showed that the latter was running for mayor of Pasay City. Diño later withdrew from the race and was replaced by the Davao mayor.

During the oral arguments of the case, Pimentel said, Lozano claimed that the case was neither about the cancellation of CoC nor declaration of nuisance.

“Pinoint out namin yun na wala sa rules yun (We pointed out that it was not in the rules). Ang sabi ni Commissioner Guanzon, well I’m interested in this novel idea of the petitioner. Imagine mo yun , why should you entertain a case, not based on your rules because you’re interested in the novel idea so medyo na shocked din ako sa narinig ko na yun,” he said.

“Dapat yun outright dismissal na of the petition because it’s not pursuant to your rules,” he added.

Guanzon’s attacks against Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, did not also sit well with Pimentel.

READ: Comelec exec challenges Escudero to a showdown in Supreme Court

“Dapat hindi na nya inaatake ang mga pultiko , referee ka e…” Pimentel said of Guanzon, who had challenged Escudero to defend Poe in the Supreme Court.

(She shouldn’t attack the politician because you’re a referee.)

“Actually, sinabi pa nyang idol nya si Miriam Defensor- Santiago. E kandidato pagkapresidente yun, dapat hindi na nya sinasabi yang mga ganun,” he added.

(She said Miriam Defensor-Santiago is her idol. And [she] is a candidate for President, [Guanzon] should say something like that.)

Asked who he thinks Guanzon is supporting in May 2016, Pimentel said: “Hindi ko alam, pero hindi ka siguro aamin nang ganun ka obvious. Hindi si Miriam yun…”

(I don’t know but you won’t admit something obvious. It’s not Miriam…) TVJ

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