The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recognized the group of Senator Koko Pimentel III as the legitimate faction of the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban).
In a five-page decision, the poll body declared the senator’s organization as the authorized signatory for the political party and not the group of Rogelio Garcia.
PDP Laban is the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The Commission resolves to declare the Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS) and List of Authorized Signatories filed by Aquilino Pimentel III as the legitimate and official Sworn Information Update Statement and List of Authorized Signatories of PDP-Laban for the May 13, 2019 elections,” read the Resolution approved by the Commission en banc.
“The Commission still maintains its recognition of the officers of (the) Pimentel group as PDP Laban’s legitimate officers authorized to act for and in behalf of PDP Laban.”
“In view of the foregoing, the Commission still maintains its recognition of the officers of (the) Pimentel group as PDP-Laban’s legitimate officers authorized to act for and in behalf of PDP Laban,” it added.
The Comelec’s ruling would finally settle which PDP Laban group would be recognized as legitimate, since both Pimentel’s and Garcia’s factions were claiming to be the real ruling party.
Both groups have filed their respective SIUS and List of Authorized Signatories before the filing period for Certificates of Candidacy for next year’s polls.
“It was the senator’s group that was recognized in the 2016 elections based on the Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance signed by persons then authorized by Pimentel.”
The Comelec ruled that it was the lawmaker’s group that was recognized in the 2016 elections based on the Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) signed by persons then authorized by Pimentel.
It also cited that the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures submitted after the last national and local polls was signed by the Party treasurer from the group of the senator.
