Koko, Serge in ‘final list’ of senatorial candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday released the “final list” of official senatorial candidates and party-list groups that would participate in the May midterm polls.

The list includes the names of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, who are both facing disqualification cases.

“This is the final list, in the sense that this will be the one that will be printed on the official ballots,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.

The Comelec removed the names of 13 “nuisance” candidates from the old list of 76.

Cases pending resolution

Jimenez said the separate disqualification cases of Osmeña and Pimentel were pending resolution.

Pimentel faces two disqualification cases. Critics say he is no longer qualified to seek another term in the Senate because he has already served two terms, from 2007 to 2019.

The Comelec’s campaign finance office is seeking the “perpetual disqualification” of Osmeña for failing to file campaign expense reports for two consecutive elections.

The Comelec also released the list of party-list groups, with Bayan Muna occupying the No. 1 slot on the ballot.

The party-list represented by Mocha Uson, a former communications assistant secretary, was last on the list at 134th.