THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued on Thursday, March 23, 2023, a certificate of finality on its earlier resolution recognizing the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction led by former President Rodrigo Duterte as the legitimate wing versus the faction led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

The poll body said both parties were already informed about the matter, which will take effect after 30 days of its promulgation, last January.

“Whereas, no restraining order has been issued by the Supreme Court within 30 days from receipt of the parties of the resolution that would preclude the 27 January 2023 resolution of this Commission from being final and executory. Now therefore, in view of the foregoing, the resolution of the commission (en banc) issued on 27 January 2023 is hereby declared final and executory under the Comelec Rules of Procedure,” the certificate of finality read.

In a statement, Pimentel said the certificate of finality issued by the Comelec “is just a pro forma, automatic announcement based on its own practice or institutional habit.”

“But the Comelec cannot, by its own pronouncements, deprive the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to review its actions and decisions especially when they are exposed to be whimsical, capricious, arbitrary or issued with grave abuse of discretion, such as the decision in this case,” he added.

Pimentel’s faction includes former Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

The Comelec also earlier declared the PDP-Lanan as the dominant majority party in the country, while the Nacionalista Party is the dominant minority. (SunStar Philippines)