Comelec studying how Señeres will be taken off ballots

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will study how it will remove the name of the late lawmaker Roy Señeres Sr. from the ballot after his death coincided with the supposed start of the printing of ballots.

READ: Roy Señeres Sr.; 68

In an interview over radio dzBB, Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said that they are looking into the process on how Señeres’ name will be removed from the ballot.

“Ang gusto naming gawin, linisin na ang balota, tanggalin na yung mga na-disqualify at ngayong nangyari ito, talagang alisin na nga natin siya (Rep. Roy Señeres), bilang respesto naman sa kanya,” Bautista said.

Señeres was included in the Comelec’s certified list of presidential candidates before he withdrew his candidacy last Friday due to health reasons.

However, the Comelec law department did not accept Señeres’ withdrawal of candidacy because it was filed by his representatives.

READ: Roy Señeres withdraws from presidential race

According to Section 73 of the Omnibus Election Code, a person who has filed a certificate of candidacy prior to the election may “withdraw the same by submitting to the office concerned a written declaration under oath.”

The lawmaker, who represents OFW Family Club party-list in the House of Representatives, passed away on Monday due to cardiac arrest. He was 68. AJH/JE