The parties to the three disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be summoned to attend the preliminary conference on the cases scheduled on Jan. 7, 2022, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.
Comelec 1st Division presiding Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the lawyers for three petitioners, Bonifacio Ilagan, Abubakar Mangelen, and Akbayan, as well as the lawyer of the respondent Marcos, will have to be present during the meeting.
“Summons will be sent to lawyers and parties to personally appear on January 7. Be there at 8:45 a.m. Doors will be closed at 8:55 a.m. @COMELEC,” she said on her Twitter account, @rowena_guanzon.
She also reminded the attendees about the health protocols to be implemented during the conference.
“Preliminary conference of Marcos DQ cases will be in @COMELEC session hall. All lawyers must be inside before 8:55 a.m. Parties must personally appear. Vax cards, face masks,” she added.
Guanzon will preside over the meeting to be held at the poll body’s session hall located on the eighth floor of the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila.
“I will preside over the preliminary conference of Akbayan et. al. vs. Marcos Jr. on Jan 7 at 9:00 a.m. Lawyers, prepare! I have low tolerance for incompetence,” she said.
Guanzon added that members of the media would be allowed to cover the event but for a limited time only.
“To the mainstream media: In the interest of the public and transparency, we will admit the media for five minutes or until the joining of issues is finished and before their exhibits are marked,” she said.
The disqualification cases were separately filed by petitioners, urging the poll body not to allow the former senator to run in the May 2022 polls.
The 1st Division is also composed of commissioners Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino.