SC summons for senatorial bet Francis Leo Marcos expected – Garcia

The Supreme Court building in Manila. —File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) move to summon Norman Mangusin, better known as Francis Leo Marcos, over his Senate bid withdrawal was already anticipated, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday.

Initially, the Comelec omitted Mangusin from the senatorial ballots, having been declared a nuisance candidate in November 2024.

On Jan. 21, the SC issued a temporary restraining order against the Comelec, ordering it to put Mangusin’s name on the ballot, only for him to back out eventually—which caused a printing delay.

READ: ‘Nuisance’ bet Francis Leo Marcos quits Senate race

“Every lawyer knows that it will be the next action of the Supreme Court,” Garcia said at the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” media forum.

“You have to respect the highest court of the land. If the Comelec respects the Supreme Court, why can’t they?” he added.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the high court said: “The SC ordered Marcos to show cause within 72 hours from notice why he should not be cited [for] contempt for his actions, which tend to bring the SC’s processes into disrepute or disrespect.”

The printing of over six million ballots began on Jan. 6, but the Comelec had to discard the ballots since it had to put the names of candidates, including Marcos.

Comelec eventually resumed the printing on Jan. 27.