The Supreme Court has asked the Commission on Elections and the House of Representatives to submit their comments on a petition filed by Election Lawyer Romulo Macalintal  to stop the June 2 special election in the fifth district of Negros Occidental, SC spokesman Midas Marquez  said yesterday.

But the High Court has not issued a temporary restraining order on the preparations for the special election, Marquez told the DAILY STAR.

The special election for a new congressman of the fifth district is being held following the death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. on January 26.

Macalintal’s petition for “certiorari and prohibition with extremely urgent application for issuance of status quo order and writ of preliminary mandatory injunction, and for the conduct of a special raffle of the case”,  named the COMELEC and House of Representatives through Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as respondents

The election lawyer, who filed the petition, on his behalf as a taxpayer, said the holding of the special election on June 2 “is illegal because it will be held beyond the period as provided for by law.”

Pending resolution of his petition, Macalintal asked the SC to issue a TRO to prevent the COMELEC  from disbursing funds in connection with the said special elections.

The COMELEC has allocated P21.6 million for the special election and preparations for the special election are ongoing.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and Board Member Emilio Yulo III are among the contenders for the fifth congressional seat on June 2.*CPG

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