Comelec en banc to decide on Marcos DQ petitions after polls

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — The 2022 national elections is proceeding without closure on the four petitions seeking to disqualify former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. from the presidential race.

After the petitions were dismissed at the division level of the Commission on Elections, the petitioners appealed the ruling before the Comelec en banc.

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said there is a decision already, but the poll body cannot promulgate it until later this week because it was released before the weekend and non-working holiday.

"You can rest assured that by Tuesday, the first working day of next week, we will promulgate 'yung four na disqualification cases, abangan niyo na lang (Wait for it)," he said on Sunday.

Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco on Monday assured that Pangarungan and the commissioners are conducting an in-depth analysis of the cases. He also said the delayed promulgation will not affect the elections.

"Insofar as to the effects of the voting, we have been saying to the public, please continue to vote. This is a legal process, which will proceed on its own under laws and there are remedies available to any of the parties which will be affected by this case. Even though the outcome of the case will be ultimately decided by the body, and I know there will be filing of motions for reconsideration, what we assure the public is that you should go out and vote, and we will ensure that your vote will be counted and canvassed properly,” he added.

Among those who appealed the junked disqualification cases against Marcos are the group of martial law abuse victims through lawyer Theodore Te, Akbayan Citizens' action party, former Partido Federal chief Abubakar Mangelen, and Pudno nga Ilokano. They argued that the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. is not qualified to run after being found guilty of not filing income tax returns from 1982 to 19-85.

Two Comelec divisions said this was not glaring enough to merit disqualification from the presidential race.

CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.