The Commission on Elections has scheduled the preliminary conference on the petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Nov. 26.
Director Elaiza Sabile-David of the Comelec Education and Information Department said the Clerk of the Commission has scheduled the initial discussion next week.
“I was told by the director of the Office of the Clerk of Commission that when they issued the summons, the preliminary conference was already included. The preliminary conference is scheduled on Nov. 26,” she said in an interview on Monday.
After the conference, the parties will be directed to submit their respective memoranda.
“If there are no more questions, it (the case) would be submitted for resolution,” she added.
When asked how soon the Comelec second division can issue a ruling, David said commissioners might need more time to resolve.
“We cannot tell. Hopefully, within the year,” she said.
Early this month, a petition was filed before the Comelec seeking to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy. The petitioners claimed that Marcos’ COC contained multiple false material representations.
In response, Marcos’ spokesperson, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, said they would address “this predictable nuisance petition” at the proper time and forum.
Meanwhile, petitions have been filed by the Comelec to declare a total of 205 aspirants for national posts as nuisance candidates, David said.
David said that if candidates don’t have a legitimate intention or platform to run, they are considered a “nuisance” and are seen to cause a “mockery” of the electoral process.
“These are the ones who were filed petitions to declare as nuisance candidates by the Comelec,” she added.