The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has directed presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as well as the petitioners seeking to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC) to file their respective comments to the Answers-in-Intervention filed by Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., et al and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
"The petitioners (Fr. Christian Buenafe et al) and respondent in SPA 21-156 have today been directed by the 2nd Division of the Comelec to file their respective Comments to the Answers-in-Intervention filed by Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., et al and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas on Nov. 22 and 24 respectively," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
"The parties are given a non-extendible period of five calendar days from receipt of the Order, to file their comments," he added.
Based on the copy of the order, an Answer-in-Intervention with Motion to Intervene and Admit Attached Answer-in-Intervention was filed by Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., Victor D. Rodriguez, and Thompson C. Lantion on Nov. 22 containing the following prayer:
"Wherefore, premises considered, Intervenors respectfully request that this Honorable Commission dismiss the petition dated 2 Nov. 2021 for lack of merit.
Other just and equitable reliefs are likewise prayed for."
On Nov. 24, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) also filed an Answer-in-Intervention with Motion for Leave to Intervene with Motion to Admit Attached Answer-in-Intervention, containing the following prayer: "Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that these petitions to cancel the certificate of candidacy of respondent Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. under Section 78 in relation to Section 74 of BP 881, and these petitions to have him disqualified under Section 12 of BP 881, all be dismissed for lack of merit.
Other relief just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for." On Dec. 1, 2021, petitioners Fr. Christian B. Buenafe et. al., filed a Motion to Expunge with Opposition Ad Cautelam , praying that the Commission (Second Division) deny outright and expunge PFP's Motion for Leave to Intervene with Motion to Admit Attached Answer in-Intervention dated Nov. 22, 2021 for being defective, dilatory and for being utterly unmeritorious.
"In view of the foregoing, the Commission (Second Division) hereby directs petitioners Fr. Christian Buenafe et al. and Respondent Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to file their respective comment/s to the Answers-in-Intervention dated 22 and 24 Nov. 2021, via e-mail to the official e-mail address of the Clerk of the Commission ([email protected]), within a non-extendible period of five calendar days from the receipt of this Order," read the order.