The Supreme Court (SC) announced on Friday its decision upholding Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ruling that recognized the 2022 Constitution and By-laws of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
In its ruling penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the SC en banc held that these are the official and controlling documents of the political party.
It ruled that Leandro Verceles, Jr. and Antonio Rodriguez, Jr. were not validly elected, in its December 2023 meeting, as PFP officers.
This case stemmed from a leadership dispute that arose between the factions of Verceles, Jr. and Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. leading to the filing of a petition before the Comelec.
The poll body ruled in favor of the Tamayo’s group for the national and local elections, explaining that the said constitution and by-laws had replaced the 2018 version and were properly submitted in 2022.
The SC noted that Verceles and Rodriquez did not object to the submission or question the authority of Tamayo’s faction to file them.
The Comelec’s findings were supported by substantial evidence and that the presumption of regularity applies to its official actions, it added.
In declaring the validity of the officership of Tamayo, Thompson Lantion, and George Briones until 2024, the High Tribunal cited Article XVII, Section 2 of the 2022 PFP Constitution and By-laws, which clearly provides for a three-year term for national officers.
Meanwhile, the election conducted by the Verceles faction was invalid due to a lack of proper notice, quorum, and authority.
