The Supreme Court is seeking the comments of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and other respondents on the petition filed that aimed to reverse the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) which upheld the presumptive president's certificate of candidacy.
In a press briefer, the SC en banc is also requesting the COMELEC, Senate, and the House of Representatives to comment on the petition within 15 days.
"Considering the allegations contained, the issues raised, and the arguments adduced in the petition… it is necessary and proper to require the respondents to comment on the petition and prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) within a period of 15 days from notice hereof," the Supreme Court said.
The order came after civic leaders, led by their counsel Theodore Te, filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to file a TRO blocking the counting of votes for Marcos Jr. and his proclamation should he win.
It also asked the high court to overturn COMELEC's resolutions on May 10 and January 17 that junked their appeal to cancel Marcos' Certificate of Candidacy.
In response to the order, Te said they are glad that the Supreme Court required comments but hoped that the 15-day deadline is inextendible.
"We are glad that the SC has required comment on the petition but considering that time is of the essence, we hope that the period may be considered inextendible," he said.
"The petition is one of first impression and of grave public interest and we hope that the Court will be given the opportunity to rule substantively on the issues raised."
