Senator Grace Poe (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Grace Poe on Saturday urged Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista to launch an investigation on “personalities” within the poll body who are allegedly trying to sabotage her chances of joining the 2016 presidential race.
Poe’s camp made the call in light of the reported infighting between Bautista and Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon over the latter’s filing of a comment with the Supreme Court on the Poe cases without the chairman’s signature.
In a statement, Poe’s spokesman Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian blasted Guanzon for her actions. “We believe that the actions of Commissioner Guanzon is wrong, as she is usurping the powers reserved for the en banc,” he said.
“The actions of Commissioner Guanzon is undermining our electoral process and endangering our very democracy,” added Poe’s spokesman.
Gatchalian said Guanzon’s actions only bolstered the senator’s suspicion that there are people within Comelec trying to derail her presidential bid.
“From day 1 we have been saying that certain personalities inside Comelec have political agendas against Sen. Poe. These personalities have been driven by political and partisan biases against Sen. Poe,” he said.
“We are calling on Chairman Bautista to investigate these personalities inside the commission that should be impartial. Chairman Bautista should unmask these personalities and make them publicly accountable,” the lawyer added.
“It’s alarming to see that the very institution tasked to oversee the conduct of orderly elections in disarray. We are calling on the good Chairman of Comelec to put the house in order,” Gatchalian said.
Bautista said he never got a chance to read the petition filed by Guanzon on behalf of the poll body. If Guanzon fails to explain herself, Bautista warned her that he would have to tell the SC that the document she filed at the high court is unauthorized.
Bautista added that Guanzon’s decision was a sign of disrespect to his position.
In response, Guanzon lashed back at Bautista, saying he has no administrative supervision over her. Guanzon said Bautista’s statement on the matter has tarnished her reputation, damaged the Comelec’s image, and might prejudice the poll body’s case at the SC.
Guanzon filed the Comelec comment to ask the high court to dismiss Poe’s petition challenging the poll body’s en banc decision upholding a division ruling that canceled Poe’s certificate of candidacy for the 2016 polls over questions on her citizenship and residency.(MNS)