SC issues TRO vs. Guanzon's substitution as P3PWD party-list nominee

The Supreme Court has issued a decision temporarily stopping a Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution allowing its former commissioner Rowena Guanzon to substitute as number one nominee of P3PWD party-list.

The temporary restraining order (TRO), released by the high court on Wednesday night, enjoined the Comelec, the House of Representatives, and Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at persons with Disabilities (P3PWD) to follow.

The decision stemmed from a petition filed by the Duterte Youth Party-List on Tuesday questioning the Comelec decision allowing the substitution of Guanzon as P3PWD nominee.

“Whereas, considering the allegations contained, the issues raised and the arguments adduced in the Petition, without necessarily giving due course to the petition, it is necessary and proper to… issue a TRO… enjoining respondent Comelec from implementing its assailed resolution approving the substitution of the original nominees of P3PWD Party-List with five new nominees,” the Court said.

READ: TRO in G.R. No. 261123 (DUTERTE YOUTH PARTY-LIST, represented by Chairperson Cardema and Representative Cardema vs. COMELEC, House of Representatives, P3PWD PARTY-LIST and Its Nominees led by Guanzon) pic.twitter.com/kLR7bHQpqY

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) June 29, 2022

Comelec said it has received a copy of the TRO and will comply.

“This is to confirm the receipt of the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Honorable Supreme Court in GR No. 261123 ‘Duterte Youth vs. the COMELEC, the House of Representatives and P3PWD Party List’,” Comelec said in a message to reporters.

“COMELEC will comply with the TRO and its directive to file comment. We will seek the representation of the OSG as a matter of procedure,” it added.

Guanzon has already taken her oath as representative of the party-list group, which won a seat in the last election.  This would give Guanzon a seat at the House of Representatives.

The Comelec previously approved in a "majority vote" the request of the party to withdraw the nomination of its original roster namely Grace Yeneza, Ira Paulo Pozon, Marianne Heidi Cruz Fullon, Peter Jonas David, and Lily Grace Tiangco.

The en banc has also "given due course" or granted and approved the new list of nominees that named Guanzon as its first nominee. Rosalie Garcia was named second nominee;  Cherrie Belmonte-Lim, third; Donnabel Tenorio, fourth; and Rodolfo Villar Jr. fifth.—LDF, GMA News