Saving Comelec’s credibility

Whatever the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) first division will be on the disqualification cases against presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr., the fact remains that Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s explosive revelations have grave implications on the credibility and integrity of this election body, and subsequently, on the results of the May 9 elections.

Guanzon, the presiding officer of the Comelec’s first division which is handling three disqualification cases against Marcos Jr., revealed last week that she had voted “to DQ (disqualify)” the candidate who was “convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude.” It was proven that Marcos Jr. did not pay his taxes for four years when he was vice governor and later governor of Ilocos Norte, Guanzon said, adding that a regional trial court had sentenced him to imprisonment and ordered him to pay a fine.

She made the revelations, Guanzon said, for fear of a “conspiracy to defeat (her) vote,” with the division allegedly delaying its decision until after her retirement on Feb. 2. This, she added, despite an agreement she had with designated ponente, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino and Commissioner Marlon Cosquejo that their resolution on the consolidated cases would be released on Jan. 17.

“I believe there is political interference here,” Guanzon told the Inquirer. “It was delayed because they already know my vote. They think if I retire my vote will not count, which is not true. This is unfair to me and unjust to the Filipino people. The voters have to know if their candidate is qualified or not,” Guanzon said.

She added that an “influential and powerful senator’’ was behind the delay although she did not name the party involved except to say that it wasn’t Marcos Jr.’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos. “She should answer the public’s question: Did she receive a bribe to delay her ponencia so my vote to disqualify BBM (Marcos) will not be counted? If it is not true, then she should release her ponencia by Monday,” Guanzon said. As her ultimatum was ignored, Guanzon released her 24-page separate opinion on Monday granting complainants’ petition to disqualify Marcos Jr., citing his “failure to file his tax returns for almost half a decade is reflective of a serious defect in one’s moral fiber’’ and that he “acted as if the law did not apply to him.’’

Ferolino earlier turned the tables on Guanzon, whom she accused of influencing her vote to disqualify Marcos Jr. “What really happened here is undue rush,” Ferolino said in a letter to Comelec chair Sheriff Abas.

Though election lawyer Romulo Macalintal had said that Guanzon should be sanctioned for “violating the confidentiality of internal proceedings of the Comelec,” the commissioner explained that “It is in the nation’s interest that this disqualification case be decided by the Supreme Court as soon as possible. We only have three months before May 9.”

Rather than focusing on Guanzon’s culpability for not observing the protocols of a collegial body, the Comelec should release the much-awaited decision and address grave accusation of its officials bowing to political pressure. This claim casts doubts on the vaunted independence of the poll body tasked by the Constitution with the crucial mandate of holding credible and honest elections that will reflect the true will of the people.

It is incumbent upon Guanzon to divulge all, including the name of the senator allegedly exerting pressure on Ferolino, so that the truth can be established and, if the claim were found to be untrue, reparations can be made to resurrect tarnished reputations.

The remaining four commissioners must pull together and show the public that they can perform their job with integrity and honor. The Comelec, too, must show utmost resolve to rise above doubts on its ability to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot. To date, the election body has yet to sufficiently address the recent report about the hacking of its automated election system.

Partisan groups like candidates and their patrons must be circumspect as well and allow the Comelec to perform its job properly without political interference. With Marcos Jr.’s name already included in the official ballot, it is to this candidate’s advantage for his camp to be low-key and discreet lest they be seen as influencing the electoral process and manipulating public perception.

The Guanzon exposé brings back memories of the 2004 elections when a recording was made public of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo calling up then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and asking him to ensure that her lead over her closest rival be a million votes at least. She later apologized for the call that became known as the “Hello, Garci” scandal.

A repeat of that disastrous incident — or its equivalent in the Guanzon revelation — that could taint the 2022 elections is the last thing the Comelec needs at this time.