Guanzon unfazed by disbarment threat, dares Briones to a fist fight in Iloilo

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon is unfazed by the “threat” of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s political party, to disbar her.

“Hambala siya (PFP general counsel George Briones) dasigon ya kay basi kun ma-file ko ka kaso nga libel sa Cadiz. Basi kun matal-as siya sa tubo,” Guanzon said in an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo-Iloilo

“Basi nalipat sila nga practicing lawyer ako kag mas maalam ko ya sa ila ya. Sila ya ginabayran para ihambal na. Ako ya wala ko ya ginabayran para mag-desisyon sini,” the outspoken commissioner added.

Guanzon, a native of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, is part the COMELEC First Division, which handles three disqualification cases against Marcos. The division has yet to release its ruling.

According to Briones, Guanzon of the COMELEC First Division “illegally disclosed and leaked with undue haste” her vote in the case against Marcos.

“Because of her premature disclosure or leaking of her unpromulgated dissenting opinion, Commissioner Guanzon should be disbarred, with forfeiture of her retirement benefits and lifetime pension because she destroyed the reputation of the institution which these moneys come from,” he said.

Guanzon also slammed Briones for calling her “an incorrigible narcissist.”

“Huwag mo akong tatawaging narcissist because I am a genius. I tread a thin line between genius and insanity. Indi ako narcissistic. I am a very bright and honest public servant. Kamo ya ginbayran kamo da,” she said.

“Sila ya ginabayran para ihambal na. Ako ya wala ko ya ginabayran para mag-desisyon sini. Gina-divert nila ang atensyon. Ngaa ginsugo na siya ni Bongbong Marcos nga atakehon ako sang personal?”

Guanzon then dared Briones to a fist fight in Iloilo.

“Hambala da si Atty. George Briones bi nga kadto kami sa plaza sa Iloilo kag magsumbaganay. Tawga siya to. Bisan diin lang nga plaza. Pagusto ang mayor kun diin nga plaza kay siya ang referee,” she said.

Guanzon also challenged Briones to have a televised debate.

Briones initially accepted Guanzon’s challenge but later declined it.

“Since Commissioner Guanzon disclosed that I am her Sigma Rho Fraternity brother, I respectfully decline her invitation to debate with her,” he said.

“For I firmly believe in our Code of Action which is ‘to give due respect if not love to a Sister Deltan’,” Briones added.IMT