Party-list Representative Roy Señeres. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
THE family of the late OFW Family Representative Roy Señeres Sr. is still discussing whether they will field a substitute candidate in his place, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.
At a televised press briefing, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said that he was able to get in touch with a brother of the late lawmaker to discuss the family’s political plans.
“I was able to get in touch with the brother of Congressman Señeres today because we wanted to know what the (family’s) plans are. As you know, in case of death, substitution is allowed provided that the substitute will come from the same party and has the same last name. I asked this with the congressman’s brother and he said that he will discuss it with the family members and hopefully they will come to a decision by tomorrow (Tuesday) morning,” Bautista said.
The Comelec chairman said that should the family decides to field a substitute candidate in place of the late ambassador, Señeres’ name will still appear on the ballot.
“It will be odd if his name continues to appear on the ballot. That would be a desecration of that person’s memory. However, if he is substituted, his name as is will appear printed on the ballot but somebody may run in his stead,” Bautista added.
One of Señeres’ children, Roy Señeres Jr., was the OFW Family Club party-list’s third nominee during the 2013 polls.
Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said that should the family decide to push through with the withdrawal of his candidacy or field a substitute, they should file a manifestation on Tuesday morning.
Señeres, through his representatives, withdrew his candidacy last Friday citing health reasons. Three days later, he passed away due to cardiac-pulmonary arrest.
He was a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission.
The 68-year-old lawmaker is survived by his wife Minerva Maaño and six children.