MANILA : The Commission on Elections (Comelec) vowed to swiftly resolve election cases pending before it.
In a statement Wednesday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said they will be issuing resolutions on “hand-me-down” cases filed as far back as years 2013 and 2016, including some 3,000 SOCE-related (Statement of Contributions and Expenditures) cases.
“Rest assured that when Comelec decides on cases it is based on the facts as presented and the law as applicable to it. When you read the decisions that the Comelec issues regarding this, it stands the test of all scrutiny, even by the Supreme Court. Because that was carefully studied,” the poll body chief added.
On Wednesday, the Comelec en banc approved a resolution dismissing close to 2,000 election offense cases filed from 2007 to 2013.
“This meticulous deed by the en banc was addressed to fully satisfy the Constitutional rights of the accused. In the elections ahead, the Comelec, as part of its procedure, will be hearing cases filed with regard to nuisance candidates directly at the en banc level for swift resolution,” it added.
On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco noted that the overspending cases totaling 437, which were filed in 2010 and 489 filed in 2013, are still pending preliminary investigation and resolution.
In the resolution, the Law Department has recommended to dismiss all the cases.
“Pursuant to the principle of stare decisis, this Department respectfully submits that the following four hundred thirty-seven (437) overspending cases involving the 2010 NLE, and four hundred eighty-nine (489) overspending cases involving, the 2013 NLE which are still pending preliminary investigation and resolution be dismissed adopting the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Peñas vs. Comelec,” it added.
Meanwhile, the number of cases with pending motions for reconsideration are at 51 (2010 elections) and 47 (2013 elections).
Source: Philippines News Agency
