Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III on thursday warned of possible "constitutional crisis" should the Supreme Court grant the petitions asking to stop the Congress from canvassing votes cast for the presidential and vice presidential races.
"If that happens, we will be courting a constitutional crisis from the fact that Congress can no longer meet after June 3rd," Sotto said in a message to reporters when sought for his comment on the matter.
"Who will then conduct the canvass as mandated by the Consti? July 25 is a key date for Congress. So, no President or VP by June 30? What do they propose? Holdover? Tell me if that is not a crisis!" he added.
A group of petitioners recently brought to the Supreme Court the pleas to disqualify presumptive president Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. from the presidential race and to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC).
The petitions also asked the High Court to temporarily stop Congress from canvassing votes in favor of Marcos Jr.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also disagreed with the petition.
“The Supreme Court cannot restrain or stop the Congress, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, from performing its constitutional duty of canvassing the votes for President and Vice President of the Republic, and proclaiming the winner,” he said.
The two chambers of Congress are expected to convene into the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) on May 24 as they are tasked to canvass votes for president and vice-president, and to proclaim the winners.
The 18th Congress is expected to adjourn its last session under the term of President Rodrigi Duterte on June 3.
When lawmakers meet again on July 25, it will be already under the next 19th Congress under the Marcos presidency.
