Poll lawyer George Erwin M. Garcia, a newly-appointed commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) inhibited himself from the cases of his previous clients, he disclosed on Tuesday, March 8.
In an interview on DZMM, Garcia said that this was the reason why he was not able to assume his post supposedly on Wednesday and decided to start on Wednesday, March 9.
"Inuna ko po yung pag-iinhibit, pag-wiwithdraw sa lahat ng kaso kung saan ako po ay may appearance (I prioritized inhibiting and withdrawing from all the cases where I am scheduled to have an appearance)," he said.
Garcia added that he also wrote to the clerk of court of the poll body and made a full disclosure of all the cases that he was involved in whether he was the principal counsel or collaborating counsel or whatever nature of his appearance was.
"At sinasabi ko po ganito kaaga hindi po ako magpaparticipate sa lahat ng kaso na ito (And I'm saying this early, I will not participate in these cases)," he stated.
Garcia's appointment drew criticism online due to his involvement with presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. It was in 2016 when the election lawyer represented the then vice-presidential candidate in his electoral protest, as well as Senator Grace Poe in her disqualification case who was running then for president.
A pending disqualification case against Marcos Jr. at the Comelec Second Division filed by his fellow Ilocanos on Dec. 7, 2021 remains undecided. It is composed of Margarita Salonga Salandanan, Crisanto Palabay, Mario Ben, Danilo Consumido, Gil Derilo, Raoul Tividad, Nida Gatchalian and Nomer Kuan.
Meanwhile petitioners have filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration on Jan. 24. in connection to a filed a petition to cancel Marcos Jr.'s Cerrtificate of Candidacy (COC) in the Second Division. A motion for reconsideration was also filed for the consolidated disqualification cases filed against him in the First Division.
Garcia pointed out that he may be leaning in favor of these cases which is why he decided to inhibit himself. He added that he will not ruin the reputation he has built, however small, for just a single case.
"Bongbong Marcos or whoever is the candidate. Para po sa akin kung ano po yung rule of law, kung ano po yung nasa constitution yun po yung mananaig po (For me the rule of law and the constitution will always prevail)," he said.