32 senatorial hopefuls OK’d for 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Wednesday said that the poll body has approved the candidacies of 32 senatorial hopefuls for the 2013 senatorial elections.

A total of 84 candidates registered for the 2013 senatorial elections.

Apart from the 27 senatorial candidacies earlier given the green light by the Comelec, Brillantes said that they had decided to approve the candidacies of five colorful candidates. He said that  two of the five were independent candidates, while three were members of a political party.

He, however, declined to give the names of the five additional senatorial candidates.

The five were part of the 57 candidates who were heard by commissioners in two separate hearings last week. The “colorful candidates” were given the chance to prove that they were not nuisance candidates and must be allowed to join the electoral race next year.

Brillantes added that they would be releasing the final list of senatorial candidates early next week.