Guanzon to politicians: Do not interfere with Comelec

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday appealed to politicians not to interfere with the poll body in settling its issues and respect its standing as an independent body.

"I would like to reiterate my appeal that the politicians should not interfere with our independence," Guanzon said in an interview. "Please respect our independence under the Constitution."

Comm. Rowena Guanzon asks politicians: Do not interfere with Comelec, respect our independence. | via @AicaDioquino pic.twitter.com/qb7qZNYe9k

— GMA News Breaking (@gmanewsbreaking) January 13, 2016

The Comelec en banc on Tuesday announced it was ratifying the comment Guanzon filed with the Supreme Court regarding the First Division ruling on three petitions calling for the cancellation of Sen. Grace Poe's certificate of candidacy for president.

It also announced, through Commissioner Arthur Lim, that all issues within the collegial body "have been resolved."

All seven members of the en banc were present during the announcement, in an apparent show of force after a rift erupted between Guanzon and Chairman Andres Bautista regarding the comment.

"The Commission on Elections en banc has shown to everyone, especially the electorate that we are united in upholding the integrity of this Commission," Guanzon said.

Earlier, Bautista issued a memorandum addressed to Guanzon and law department director Maria Norina Casingal asking why the comment was not shown to him and the other commissioners before it was submitted to the high court.

The supposedly internal memo leaked to the media, which prompted Guanzon to hit back at Bautista through social media, saying she was not his subordinate and that he had bias toward Poe.

The chairman later said that according to the audio minutes of their Jan. 5 meeting, Guanzon was authorized only to draft the comment, which would still be subject to the approval of the en banc.

In light with this, Poe urged Bautista to launch an investigation on "personalities" within the Comelec who are allegedly trying to sabotage her chances of joining the 2016 presidential derby. 

In a statement, Poe's spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, blasted Guanzon for her actions, accusing the poll official of "usurping the powers reserved for the en banc."

He added that Guanzon "is undermining our electoral process and endangering our very democracy," adding her actions strengthen Poe's suspicion that there are people within the Comelec who are trying to derail her presidential bid.

Poe's running-mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, meanwhile, said he hopes Guanzon "will stop and avoid all moves or statements that tend to show bias against a candidate."

Sen. Chiz Escudero: I hope Comelec Comm. Guanzon will stop and avoid all moves or statements that tend to show bias against a candidate

— Jam Sisante (@jamsisante) January 11, 2016

For her part, Guanzon said it was "improper" for Poe to ask Bautista to launch an investigation within the Comelec. —KBK, GMA News