The Supreme Court has paved the way for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid to run for Congress in her home province in Pampanga when it dismissed a disqualification case filed against her.
Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, in her petition, told the high court that the Comelec erred in its reading of Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. She said the provision made two prohibitions – an absolute ban on any re-election for an incumbent President, and a prohibition on re-election for the presidency against an individual who succeeded as President and who have served as such for more than four years.
Baraquel said that it was unfair to Arroyo’s opponents because this meant that the President could use the entire resources and machinery of the State to influence the result of the elections or to give herself undue advantage.
But the high court through its spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the tribunal did not find any indication that there was grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) when it dismissed Baraquel’s petition.
“There is no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec,” Marquez said.
Arroyo is running for a congressional seat in the 2nd District of Pampanga.
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