Petitioner Atty. Moises Tolentino, Jr. has filed a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) in relation to the disqualification case of Erwin Tulfo, the nominee next in line of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) party-list group.
In his 18-page motion received by the Commission on Elections on Tuesday, May 30, Tolentino argued that the ruling that the poll body has no jurisdiction over the said case is "patently contrary to law and jurisprudence".
In its ruling, the Second Division cited Comelec Resolution No. 9366, stating that it explicitly requires that a petition for disqualification of party-list nominees shall be filed any day not later than the date of proclamation. ACT-CIS was proclaimed on May 26, 2022.
The Second Division dismissed the petition for "lack of jurisdiction" stating that it was filed beyond the period prescribed under the rules.
In the same ruling, the Second Division cited the Certificate of Proclamation issued to ACT-CIS by the Commission En Banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers for the Party-List System in the May 2022 polls which according to them, states that "the people voted for the party-list group/organization/coalition during elections, and not the nominees. Therefore, it is the Party list that is being proclaimed as the winner, not the nominees."
The petitioner said that this is "very wrong" and "utterly deceptive".
"If we go by this argument, there will be no need for individual nominees to be proclaimed as Party-List Representative. Likewise, the issuance of individual Certificate of Proclamation would be unnecessary. Yet, this the procedure the Comelec has been doing," the petitioner said.
"The fact is, as of today, Respondent Erwin Tulfo is yet to be issued his certificate of proclamation," he added.
In his petition, Tolentino argued that under Section 13 of Republic Act 7941 or the Party List System Act, the proclamation of the party list representative, not the proclamation of the party list itself, serves as the reckoning point for the counting of the prescription period for filing a petition.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that the case will be elevated to the Commission en banc for proper disposition.