Question: Who is running the elections?
Answer: The Commission on Elections.
Wrong. It is the Supreme Court.
At least that’s how it appears to us.The Constitution says
election matters are the domain of the Comelec. It is supposed to be the expert
in elections. But lately, the Supreme Court has been arrogating unto itself
important policy matters on elections, and Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes is understandably
so frustrated and flabbergasted that he is on the verge of resigning.
“Who’s running the elections?” he asked. “Is it the Comelec or the
Supreme Court?”Why shouldn’t he be discouraged and disappointed when in the
last couple of months the high court reversed four Comelec decisions on crucial
poll issues?
Last March 5, the high court issued a temporary restraining order
(TRO) on a Comelec letter ordering the Diocese of Bacolod to remove its
oversized tarpaulin identifying “Team Patay” and “Team Buhay” senatorial
candidates to guide its flock on who to vote for or to reject.
Then just last week, the high court issued a status quo ante (SQA)
order on a Comelec decision disqualifying some party-list groups. (An SQA
orders litigants to go back to the situation before the assailed order was
given.) It ordered the Comelec to look once more at the qualifications of the
party-list groups seeking accreditation. Meaning, until the Comelec finishes
looking at the qualifications of the party-list groups under the new parameters
given by the high court, the party-lists already disqualified are back in
contention. Can the Comelec finish the job in the few remaining days before the
polls?
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