MANILA, Philippines — Petitions have been filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare a total of 82 presidential aspirants as nuisance candidates, an official of the poll body said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, petitions have been filed to declare 15 vice-presidential aspirants and 108 senatorial aspirants as nuisance candidates, Comelec Director Elaiza Sabile-David said in a public briefing.
According to Comelec’s list of candidates, there are 97 individuals running for president, 28 for vice president, 174 for senator, and 270 party-list groups seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.
Aspiring elective officials are considered by Comelec as nuisance candidates if they don’t have a legitimate intention or platform to run and are seen to cause a “mockery” of the electoral process.
In the 2016 polls, only six out of 130 presidential hopefuls made it to the ballot.
Comelec earlier said “mere declaration” of aspirants as being placeholders in the upcoming elections is not enough for them to be declared as nuisance candidates.