Comelec mulls disqualification of Eddie Gil

The candidacy of self-proclaimed billionaire Eddie Gil hangs in the balance as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) studies the possibility of disqualifying him after three of his senatorial candidates alleged that he is not seriously pursuing his presidential bid.

The Comelec is expected to decide during an en banc meeting today whether Gil is capable of conducting a nationwide campaign, one of the criteria used by the poll body to weed out nuisance candidates.

Citing Gil’s apparent lack of interest in running for president, senatorial bets actress Pilar Pilapil, former senator and television host Eddie Ilarde and Jose Crisologo withdrew from his Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa party last week.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said it is still possible to disqualify Gil if the seven-member poll body finds the allegations valid. Around 80 presidential aspirants filed a certificate of candidacy with the Comelec, but only six candidates were deemed qualified to run.

Gil earlier claimed that he can give each Filipino P1 million if he is elected president.

His party is only one of three political groups to field a complete line-up of 12 senatorial candidates. The other two groups are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino.

A separate disqualification case against Gil was filed by another presidential candidate, evangelist Eduardo Villanueva, who said voters may confuse him with the businessman.

Villanueva’s lawyer, Jordan Pizzaras, said the Comelec has yet to decide on their motion to disqualify Gil from the presidential race.