The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas’ (PFP) general counsel George S. Briones has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to probe Commissioner Rowena Guanzon for “illegally disclosing and leaked with undue haste her vote to disqualify presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.”
Based on an interview by GMA-7’s Sandra Aguinaldo, on Jan. 27, 2022, which was aired nationwide, Guanzon disclosed her decision to disqualify Marcos Jr.
Guanzon is a member of Comelec’s first division.
Comelec’s first division hears the consolidated disqualification cases against Marcos.
Guanzon further said in the interview that she submitted her
decision on Jan. 17, 2022.
Briones asserts that the statement of Guanzon is false.
“No decision has been promulgated by the Comelec first division,” Briones said in a statement that circulated on sodial media.
Moreover, Briones added that due to Guanzon’s premature disclosure or leaking of her unpromulgated dissenting opinion, Guanzon should be disbarred with forfeiture of her retirement benefits and lifetime pension, because Guanzon destroyed the reputation of the institution she is currently a part of.
Reports say that Guanzon is about to retire on Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022.
Briones, in the same statement, quoted Rule 2.01 of the Code of Judicial Conduct which states: “A judge should behave at all times as to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
The PFP’s general counsel said that when Guanzon disclosed her “miniority decision” ahead of the submission of the other commissioners’ opinions and prior to promulgation of the complete decision, Guanzon placed her fellow commissioners under a “cloud of suspicion.”
Furthermore, Briones quipped that Guanzon’s suspicion that an unnamed politician probably is intervening in the situation is double hearsay and pure tsismis and should be condemned by the Supreme Court as unworthy of a sitting Comelec commissioner.
Likewise, Briones also quoted Rule 3.07 of the Code Judicial Conduct, “A judge should abstain from making public comments on any pending or impending case and should require similar restraint on the part of court personnel.”
Briones then chided the Comelec commissioner by saying that Guanzon showed undue interest in the case by leaking her decision before the promulgation, which may result in the forfeiture of her retirement benefits and lifetime pension just to support the candidacy of vice president Leni Robredo.
Briones revealed that any release of the copy to the public of an unpromulgated ponencia infringes on the confidential internal deliberations of the Court. It is settled that internal deliberations of the Court are confidential, Briones added.
The unauthorized leaking of Guanzon’s decision, Briones said, is a breach of duty, amounts to breach of public trust as the leak is motivated by self-interest.
The statement added that Guanzon impeded and degraded the administration of justice.
A Comelec commissioner is an impeacheable officer under the Constitution. Once an impeacheable officer is no longer in office, an authority, like the court may proceed to hear a case against a retired impeacheable officer and impose the corresponding sanctions for misconduct committed during the officer’s tenure, Briones said as he cited a Supreme Court administrative matter dated Feb. 24, 2009.
Briones further said that Guanzon has shown, herself, to be an “incorrigible narcissist” and has shown an insatiable craving for posting on social media like Twitter, “which is not proper for a judge”.
Briones then quoted Rule 2.02 of Code of Judicial Conduct saying,
“A judge should not seek publicity for personal vainglory”.
Briones then cited Section 12, of On Influence of Parties and Counsel, Canons of Judicial Ethics by saying, “A judge should not sit in litigation where she is affected by the influence of the petitioners”.
The statement bared that Guanzon was appointed by President Corazon Aquino’s revolutionary government as OIC mayor of Cadiz,
Negros Occidental in 1986. In 2013, Guanzon was appointed Commission on Audit (COA) commissioner by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
In 2015 she was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as Comelec commissioner.
Guanzon should have inhibited herself in these disqualification cases against Marcos of the PFP, the statement reads.
Guanzon’s mad rush to come out with a decision of the 1st division bares her true color which is yellow, Briones said.
The PFP is requesting the Comelec en banc to conduct an administrative investigation immediately against Guanzon for her violation of the above Canons of Judicial Ethics and Code of Judicial Conduct before her retirement benefits are released.
A source in the camp of Marcos Jr. chided Guanzon for being biased and was probably prompted to release her decision after learning that the 2 other commissioners of the 1st division of the Comelec decided in favor of the PFP’s standard bearer.
The other commissioners of the Comelec’s 1st division are Aimee Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo.
GUANZON’S REPLY
Guanzon has issued a statement that she is challenging Briones to a debate, according to News 5.
“I challenge George Briones of Partido Federal of BBM to a debate on TV. If he thinks he is brighter than me, he should agree. They are diverting the issue. Ilabas na ni Comm. [Virgilio] Ferrolino ang Resolution. Ang talo, mag Motion for Reconsideration. Alam ba ni BBM that Partido Federal is threatening me, the Presiding Commissioner while the case is pending? Baka i-contempt ko kayo, ipakulong ko kayo sa Manila City Jail,” Guanzon said.
However, in another statement, Briones declines the opportunity to engage in a debate with Guanzon, citing the latter as a member of a sorrority affiliated with the former’s fraternity.