Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., in an interview yesterday reiterated the poll body was not “pressuring” Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to resign her Senate seat.
She was elected for a six-year term and it is her prerogative whether to resign or finish her term up to 2016, Brillantes said.
“What we are doing is preparing for a scenario where in the event she is called to active duty as International Criminal Court (ICC) judge after the October deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy or after the final configuration of the machines in January next year, and the Senate declares a vacancy, then we have no other recourse but to proclaim a 13th senator to serve the unexpired term of Senator Santiago,” Brillantes added.
Brillantes said that they are also discussing the proposal of Sen. Franklin Drillon to require voters to shade 13 senatorial candidates on the ballots but only 12 will be proclaim if Santiago opts not to resign but, if she decides to resign, proclaim 13.
Brillantes also took a swipe at election lawyer Romy Macalintal, who earlier had said what the poll body intended to do was unconstitutional.
“I cannot understand what he is saying... Media report quoted Macalintal as saying the Comelec cannot proclaim a 13th senator-elect. He’s got a lot of explaining to do,” Brillantes said.
We’re not giving ultimatum to Miriam, says poll body chief
- Written by Van C. Suarez
- Thursday, 12 July 2012 00:00
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