MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to resolve “misrepresentation” cases involving 48 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia announced on Monday.
According to the list provided by Garcia, five of these individuals are SK chairpersons, while the remainder are SK members. The officials in question come from various locations across Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
While specific details regarding the alleged violations of the Omnibus Election Code were not disclosed, Garcia noted that this list represents only a portion of the politicians currently facing charges before the Comelec.
“Yan ay Agosto lang. Eh buwan-buwan po halos eh meron tayong misrepresentation cases na inaaprubahan, base sa rekomendasyon ng ating Law Department,” Garcia told ABS-CBN News.
(That list is just for August. Almost every month, we approve misrepresentation cases based on the recommendation of our Law Department.)
Garcia clarified that the list does not exclusively target SK officials. It also includes village officials, mayors, and congressmen.
“Kandidato, maaaring hindi man nakaupo, yung iba nakaupo,” he added.
(Candidates, whether elected or not, some are already in office.)
He also emphasized that the Comelec is not singling out Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, whose similar case is currently under deliberation by the Commission.
“Regular naming ginagawa yung pagpa-file ng misrepresentation cases doon sa mga kandidatong may nag-file ng disqualification, or cancellation ng candidacy. O mga kandidatong wala mang nag-file ng disqualification o cancellation, pero sa atin pong palagay ay may pagsisinungaling,” Garcia said.
(We regularly file misrepresentation cases against candidates facing disqualification or cancellation of candidacy. Even those without filed disqualification, if we believe there is deception.)
Garcia acknowledged that these cases often take time to resolve due to respondents invoking their constitutional rights and the right to due process.
“Hindi katulad sa disqualification of cases o cancellation of candidacy na may period talaga tayo na dapat ganitong araw lang kinakailangan makapag-file sila ng kanilang komento o memorandum. Dito po hindi. Kalimitan humihingi ng extension, third extension pa nga minsan, para lamang magkaroon ng due process,” Garcia explained.
(Unlike disqualification or cancellation of candidacy cases, which have set periods for filing comments or memorandums, these cases allow more flexibility. Often, extensions are requested, sometimes even a third extension, to ensure due process.)
Currently, there are around 700 pending misrepresentation cases out of the nearly 10,000 initially filed with the Comelec. These cases are under review by the Law Division.
“Ang problem kasi once na nadesisyunan na sa dibisyon, ay nagkakaroon ng filing ng Motion for Reconsideration. At dahil dyan, syempre dumadagdag uli yun bilang naka-pending na kaso,” Garcia said.
(The problem is that once the division resolves a case, there is often a Motion for Reconsideration filed. Because of this, the number of pending cases increases again.)