MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court upheld the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) recognition of the 2022 Constitution and By-laws of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), affirming the three-year term of its national officers and invalidating the rival faction’s claim to leadership.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the Court en banc ruled that Leandro Verceles Jr. and Antonio Rodriguez Jr. were not validly elected as party president and secretary general, respectively, during a Dec. 14, 2023 meeting. The Court said the assembly lacked quorum, proper notice, and authority, rendering its elections without legal effect.
The ruling settles a leadership dispute within PFP, a registered political party, between the faction of Verceles and that of Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.
SC upholds Comelec recognition of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas 2022 by-laws
Tamayo, along with Thompson Lantion and George Briones, had assumed their posts as president, secretary general, and general counsel in September 2021. Under the 2022 party charter, their terms are valid for three years until 2024.
The Verceles group had argued that the officers’ terms should have ended in September 2023 based on the 2018 by-laws, which provided only a two-year tenure. But the Court noted that the 2022 Constitution and By-laws were properly submitted to the Comelec on April 11, 2022 for the national and local elections, with no objections or alternative versions filed.
The Court emphasized that the Comelec’s findings were backed by substantial evidence and were entitled to the presumption of regularity. It stressed that Verceles and Rodriguez, who were incumbent officers when the 2022 charter was submitted, did not oppose its adoption or question the authority of Tamayo’s group.
SC upholds Comelec recognition of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas 2022 by-laws
With the decision, Tamayo, Lantion, and Briones remain the duly recognized officers of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas until 2024., This news data comes from:http://qcj-vmci-gtam-lyde.705-888.com
- Government work, classes on Tuesday suspended due to bad weather
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submits changes
- PH has chance of getting UNSC seat - Manalo
- Quezon City hails directive for national projects to get local permits
- Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin acquitted in royal insult case
- Widespread flooding in Quezon City due to heavy rains, stranding commuters, rendering most roads impassable to vehicles
- Israel expects 1 million Gazans to flee new offensive
- Lacson to govt: Protect education budget
- China displays its weaponry in a tightly controlled military parade
- Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce engaged
