MANILA: Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (pic) will be part of the final list of candidates for the May 9, 2022 polls, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said .
Comelec - Education and Information Department Director Elaiza David said the name of the former senator will be on the official ballot since other cases against him have yet to be resolved.
“Since his cases are still pending and the ballot faces are already ready, we are expecting to see him (Marcos) on the ballot,” she said in a virtual press briefing.
Five petitions to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy and disqualify him from the polls are still awaiting resolutions.
Two petitions have already been dismissed by the Comelec Second Division.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in case a candidate is disqualified before the elections but after the ballots have been printed, “obviously the name will remain on the ballot”.
In the event Marcos’ party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, will not be able to substitute him in case of a disqualification, all votes for Marcos will be invalid.
“Any vote garnered by that name on the ballot will be considered stray,” Jimenez said.
In case there will be a replacement, all votes will be credited to the substitute, who must have the same surname.
“It’s not necessarily a member of the family, but he/she has to have the same surname,” Jimenez said.
Ten presidential candidates remain on the national ballot for the upcoming elections in May, the Commission on Elections said Tuesday.
The candidates include Vice President Leni Robredo and former Marcos Jr.,
Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo
Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, labor leader Leody de Guzman, former
presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, and former Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez.
Also included are Faisal Mangondato and Jose Montemayor Jr.
“The people who are left on the ballot cannot be considered nuisance candidates number one because they’re able to show they have legitimate intention to run for office,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.
“Legitimate intent to run should not be equated with popularity, should not be equated with premature campaign which is what everyone else is doing.”
The vice presidential candidates include Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Buhay party list Rep. Lito Atienza and Dr. Willie Ong.
Also included are Walden Bello, Rizalito David, Manny Lopez and Carlos Serapio.
