Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has given fellow commissioner Aimee Ferolino a Monday deadline to come out with the First Division’s resolution on the disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
If Ferolino did not come out with the ponencia (written decision or majority opinion) of the First Division by January 31, Guanzon threatened to reveal the “influential and powerful” senator who was behind the supposed delay in the release of the resolution.
“Binibigyan ko lang sila hanggang Monday. Ilabas ninyo ang resolusyon, hindi ko ilalabas pangalan. Ilabas niyo lang [I am giving them until Monday. Release the resolution and I will not reveal the name. Just release the resolution],” Guanzon told radio DWIZ when asked about the identity of the senator.
Guanzon told Ferolino in a memorandum – a copy of which the former posted on her Twitter account on Saturday— to submit a written explanation until January 31.
As the presiding officer of the Commission on Elections division handling Marcos’ cases, Guanzon said a ponencia should have been submitted on January 17, a week after the petitions were raffled to Ferolino’s office.
“As we have agreed in the First Division, you were to write your ponencia to be submitted to the First Division on 17 January 2022,” Guanzon said in the memo.
“On 17 January 2022, you informed me that you would not be able to do so due to the COVID illness of your lawyer assigned to study these cases. Your lawyer however has since recovered and you are no longer in isolation.”
Guanzon said she had informed Ferolino of her vote to disqualify Marcos on January 17, by giving a copy of her Memorandum of Vote and Separate Opinion.
“Further, on 24 January 2022, I sent your several text messages asking you to finish your ponencia as agreed upon, or waive the drafting of the decision in favor of Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo,” Guanzon added. “You refused to avail the latter option.”
“As I’ve mentioned, eighteen (18) days have lapsed since the three consolidated cases were raffled to you, and it is unjustifiable that you have not submitted your ponencia to the First Division.”
Guanzon said Ferolino was “deliberately delaying” the release of her ponencia until Guanzon’s retirement on February 2 – which would negate her vote — and that Ferolino’s move aimed to defeat her vote.
“This way, my separate opinion will not be attached to the Majority Resolution and will not form part of the records.” Guanzon said.
On Friday, Ferolino wrote a letter to Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas, calling Guanzon’s move to publicize her vote to disqualify Marcos “appalling.”
She also denied that Comelec First Division members agreed to a deadline on deciding the cases.
Ferolino also alleged that Guanzon repeatedly tried to convince her to disqualify the former senator, and that Guanzon’s disclosure of her
vote was meant to influence Ferolino’s decision.