At least two political camps have raised concerns that the petition filed by the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to reopen the filing of the certificates of candidacy may delay the May 9 elections.
Partido Reporma standard bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said while he would not want to think that there is a deliberate intention on the part of the Cusi wing to delay the elections, he said the Senate will ensure the scenario does not happen.
“I would not like to think that the intention of the petition to reopen the filing of the COCs filed by the PDP-Laban is to delay the election on May 9, 2022 – and pave the way for the extension of the term of office of the President beyond June 30, 2022. This is something the 1987 Constitution clearly forbids,” said Lacson.
“As I have suggested earlier to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and some of my colleagues, the Senate must not allow this to happen. We can preserve the presidential line of succession as provided under Art. VII Sec. 7 of the 1987 Constitution,” he added.
Lacson said if such a no-election scenario becomes imminent, a new Senate President whose term expires on June 30, 2025 can be elected by Congress.
“He/she shall act as President until a new President or Vice President shall have been chosen and qualified,” the presidential aspirant said.
The Pacquiao wing of the PDP-Laban is also wary of the petition filed by the Cusi faction.
In a statement, senatorial aspirant Lutgardo Barbo, who also sits as vice chairman of the PDP-Laban wing led by Pacquiao, said the petition was a “ploy to derail” the upcoming polls.
Barbo claimed the Cusi group was attempting “to subvert the will of the people.”
“Such a petition was filed by mere usurpers and pretenders designed to mislead the public that they are authorized by the party to do such farcical acts,” said Barbo.
“As far as the real PDP Laban Party is concerned, there has been no authority to file such a petition to allow the filing of CoCs. All their acts are unauthorized because they are led by non-members and they are in utter violation of the party Constitution, “ he added.
In a statement, the Cusi-led faction said they are only “exercising its rights under the election laws.”
“Let the Comelec rule on the petition based on legal arguments/merits. Let us not focus on naysayers dwelling on conjectures and name-calling,” they said.
“The petition is based on a constitutional precept on the exercise of suffrage. And as a consequence, it is also imploring the Comelec to resolve all issues before the ballots are printed.”