i-site’s 2007 Election Files

THE Commission on Elections has declared as “nuisance” 42 of those who filed their certificates of candidacy for the Senate, leaving 37 to vie for the 12 seats up for grabs in May.

Issuing Resolution No. 7832, the poll body gave “due course” to the candidacies of 34 aspirants nominated by 13 political parties. Three independent candidates were also deemed legitimate.

“Considering the dignity that must be accorded to the Office of the Senator,” the resolution reads, “there are indications that various certificates of candidacy were filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion … by … acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate had no bona fide intention to run.”

Those declared as nuisance candidates are asked to appear before the Comelec on Tuesday, the 6th, to set their appeal.

The following made it to the official list of senatorial candidates:

• Joselito Cayetano, Melchor Chavez, Antonio Estrella, Oliver Lozano, Eduardo Orpilla, Ruben Enciso and Victor Wood (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan)

• Francis Joseph Escudero, Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III and Teresa Oreta (Nationalist People’s Coalition)

• Aquilino Pimentel III (Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan)

• Michael Defensor, Vicente Magsaysay, Cesar Montano, Prospero Pichay Jr., Ralph Recto, Luis Singson and Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats)

• Panfilo Lacson, John Henry Osmeña and Antonio Trillanes IV (United Opposition)

• Benigno Aquino III and Francis Pangilinan (Liberal Party)

• Martin Bautista, Zosimo Paredes and Adrian Sison (Ang Kapatiran Party)

• Sonia Roco (Aksyon Demokratiko)

• Joker Arroyo (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)

• Alan Peter Cayetano and Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party)

• Edgardo Angara (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino)

• Jamalul Kiram (Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas)

• Felix Cantal (Philippine Green Republican Party)

• Anna Dominique Coseteng, Richard Gomez and Gregorio Honasan (Independent)

Among those who were dropped from the roll is Danton Remoto, Ateneo de Manila professor and head of the gay group, Ang Ladlad. The group had as well filed for accreditation as a party-list contender for the House of Representatives, but was similarly rejected by Comelec for “failing to comply with the law.”

KBL’s Joselito Cayetano, meanwhile, still faces a disqualification charge from opposition candidate Alan Peter Cayetano; the hearing is set for March 7.

Comelec chief Benjamin Abalos Sr. also says the list of 37 may still be shortened.

View Resolution No. 7832, signed by Abalos and four of the five other poll commissioners. The sixth commissioner is out on official business.