(Eagle News) – Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan said that they would question before the Supreme Court the recent resolution of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) which picked the Nacionalista Party as the dominant minority party.
Pangilinan said that the Comelec’s ruling was “completely unacceptable,” saying that the Nacionalista Party was also allied with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) was also chosen the dominant majority party in Comelec Resolution No. 10538 which was promulgated on May 8.
Comelec said that said that two parties got the highest weight average points based on the poll body’s computation using their provided criteria in explaining its decision.
“How can that happen when PDP and NP are both allied with the administration? How can they be both majority and minority?” asked Pangilinan who is also the campaign manager of the Otso Diretso opposition senatorial candidates.
“This is ununacceptable. We oppose this. We will oppose (this) before the Supreme Court. No retreat. Never surrender!” he said.
Pangilinan also reminded the Comelec that it should not be used as a ”tool” of the Duterte administration in trampling down on the opposition party’s political rights.
“Honorable Commissioners, your decision runs counter to democracy. Runs counter to the basic tenets of fair play. Runs counter to common sense. Incredible. You chose to deny the existence of the opposition and gave all the privileges to the administration,” he said.
The senator also questioned the timing of the Comelec’s decision on the matter, coming out just a few days before the May 13 midterm elections.
(With a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)
