IBALIK ANG TIWALA

  Senate readies for No-el scenario after PDP-Laban bid to reopen COC filing — Lacson, Sotto MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is ready to elect a new leader who will serve as acting president should there be an attempt to delay the May 2022 polls and extend President Rodrigo  Duterte’s term. Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson disclosed this possible scenario after Duterte’s faction in the PDP- Laban sought to  reopen the filing of certificates of candidacy  (CoCs). “I would not like to think that the intention of the petition to reopen the filing of the COCs filed by the PDP-Laban is to delay the election on May 9, 2022 — and pave the way for the extension of the term of office of the President beyond June 30, 2022. This is something the 1987 Constitution clearly forbids,” Lacson said in a  statement on Monday. “As I have suggested earlier to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and some of my colleagues, the Senate must not allow this to happen,” he add...

 January 3, 2022 On the PDP-Laban Petition to Reopen the COC Filing Period I would not like to think that the intention of the petition to reopen the filing of the COCs filed by the PDP-Laban is to delay the election on May 9, 2022 - and pave the way for the extension of the term of office of the President beyond June 30, 2022. This is something the 1987 Constitution clearly forbids. As I have suggested earlier to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and some of my colleagues, the Senate must not allow this to happen. We can preserve the presidential line of succession as provided under Art. VII Sec. 7 of the 1987 Constitution. How? SP Sotto and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco are both stepping down along with the President and Vice President on June 30. If such a scenario becomes imminent, before Congress adjourns, we will elect a new Senate President whose term expires on June 30, 2025. He/she shall act as President until a new President or Vice President shall have been chosen and qual...