The Supreme Court En Banc, during its session today, 28 June 2022, dismissed the petitions in G.R. No. 260374 (Fr. Christian B. Buenafe, et al. v. Commission on Elections, et al.) and G. R. No. 260426 (Bonifacio P. Ilagan, et al. v. Commission on Elections, et al.). Thirteen Justices voted to dismiss the petitions, while two Justices took no part in the case.
The Court also affirmed the 17 January 2022 and 10 May 2022 Resolutions of the COMELEC in SPA No. 21-156 (DC) and COMELEC Resolutions dated 10 February 2022 and 10 May 2022 in SPA No. 21-212 (DC).
The petitioners assailed the subject Resolutions of the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) which dismissed for lack of merit the Petitions against respondent Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the denial or cancellation of the latter’s Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the position of President of the Republic of the Philippines in the 2022 National Elections, and denied the subsequent motions for reconsideration. Likewise, they sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order against Congress from canvassing the votes cast for Marcos Jr. and proclaiming him as President pending resolution of the petitions before the High Court.
The Court held that in the exercise of its power to decide the present controversy led them to no other conclusion but that respondent Marcos Jr. is qualified to run for and be elected to public office. Likewise, his COC, being valid and in accord with the pertinent law, was rightfully upheld by the COMELEC.
The Member-in-Charge is Justice Rodil V. Zalameda.
Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr. did not take part in the deliberations. Justice Inting’s sibling is incumbent COMELEC commissioner Socorro B. Inting, while Justice Kho, Jr. is a former COMELEC commissioner. The SC Public Information Office will upload the decision to the SC website once it receives an official copy from the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc. ###