MANILA - Team PNoy senatorial candidate Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino underwent preliminary investigation at the Commission on Elections Thursday for alleged poster violations.
Aquino's lawyer, Teddy Rigoroso, represented his client in the preliminary investigation. He declined to be interviewed but submitted Aquino's counter affidavit.
Aquino has allegedly failed to comply with the poll body's take-down notices for illegal posters.
Comelec Law Department Chair Esmeralda Ladra sajd Aquino's case was scheduled today. Respondents do not have to show up at the hearing and may be represented by their lawyers.
Ladra said that after respondents submit their responses and whatever evidence they want to submit, the law department will make its recommendations to the commission en banc.
The Comelec en banc has the option to dismiss the complaint or order the law department to file a case for election offense under a regular trial court if they find probable cause.
Ladra said while the Comelec law department can make its recommendations before the elections, it is possible the Comelec en banc may rule on their recommendations after the elections, or even after the respondents have assumed office should they win the elections.
"They also have due process na dapat nating i-observe," she said.
She said the law department began its preliminary investigation based on the alleged failure of candidates to comply with take-down notices for illegal posters.
The complainants are the monitoring officers of the Comelec.