HARD WORKWork at the Senate includes spending hundreds of hours at hearings like this on Jan. 24. —LYN RILLON
It’s same old, same old for voters in the midterm elections as reelectionists, returning politicos and members of political dynasties dominate the list of those eligible to run in the 2019 Senate race.
After a delay of more than a month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally released on Saturday the names of 76 individuals who can run for 12 Senate seats up for grabs in May.
The list included Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, both facing disqualification cases.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and senatorial aspirant Glenn Chong earlier filed separate disqualification cases against Pimentel, whom they alleged already spent the two-term limit set for senators. Under the 1987 Constitution, senators can only serve for two six-year consecutive terms.
3rd run
The 2019 midterms marks Pimentel’s third straight run for the Senate.
On his first term as senator, however, Pimentel served for just more than a year as it was only in August 2011 that he was able to join the Senate.
This was after his then rival, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, resigned as evidence of poll fraud in Maguindanao province became evident.
During the 2007 midterm elections, Pimentel narrowly lost the 12th and last Senate seat to Zubiri. Pimentel filed a poll protest and sought to invalidate votes from Maguindanao as the province went 12-0 in favor of candidates of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, including Zubiri.
Osmeña was charged by the Comelec with failure to submit his statement of contributions and expenditures during his 2013 and 2016 Senate runs.
152 COCs
The Comelec, however, has yet to release a copy of its decision on why it listed Pimentel and Osmena as qualified candidates.
In October, the poll body received 152 certificates of candidacies (COCs) for senator.
It was scheduled to release the list in December but failed to do so as the commission was not yet through with screening the candidates.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said that the Comelec was trying to avoid including on the ballot individuals who may later be disqualified since this would result in stray votes.
Jimenez, however, said on Saturday that 13 aspirants on the list were still in danger of being disqualified.
Risky list
The 13 candidates were Albert Alba, Ernesto Ansula, Hussayin Arpa, Rizalito David, Angelo de Alban, Alexandar Encarnacion, Geremy Geroy, William Iliw Iliw, Josefa Javelona, Norman Marquez, Rolando Merano, Frank Naval and Eric Negapatan.
“Should a certificate of finality be issued, these 13 names will be stricken off the list,” Jimenez said.
Of all the candidates, seven are reelectionist senators, including Pimentel. They are: Senators Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar.
At least seven politicos, led by former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, are also eyeing a Senate comeback.
Apart from Osmeña, the other politicians are: the P10-billion pork barrel scam triumvirate Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile; Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid.
Administration allies aiming to crack the Magic 12 are: Freddie Aguilar, Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Go, Dong Mangudadatu, Jiggy Manicad, Imee Marcos, Harry Roque and Francis Tolentino. The opposition candidates included Gary Alejano, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Pilo Hilbay, Romy Macalintal and Erin Tañada.
Other notable names were Raffy Alunan, Neri Colmenares, Larry Gadon, Leody de Guzman, Allan Montaño and Willie Ong, among others.
Inquirer online has a complete list of names of candidates released on Saturday by the Comelec.