Comelec law unit wants 125 presidential aspirants declared as ‘nuisance’

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) law department has filed motu proprio petitions to declare as nuisance candidates 125 who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for president; 13 for vice president; and 128 for senators.

The names of the respondents have not yet been released.

It can be recalled that a total of 130 COCs were filed for president; 19 for vice president; and 172 for senator last week.

Comelec Chair Andres Bautista earlier assured the public that those facing motu proprio cases would be provided due process by the poll body.

The Comelec clerk is now expected to call a preliminary conference to provide the respondents the opportunity to defend his or her COC and explain why they should not be declared nuisance candidates.

Under Comelec rules, the commission can file motu proprio cases to declare a candidate as a nuisance candidate or people may file disqualification cases against them.

Those that could be declared as nuisance bets are those that filed their COCs to “put the election process in mockery or disrepute; or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates; or who by other acts or circumstances is clearly demonstrated to have no bona fide intention to run for public office.”

The Comelec will come up with the official list of candidates for the 2016 polls in December.  SFM