Deliberations on nuisance bets begin

The Commssion on Election (Comelec) started its deliberations on the fate of the 42 so-called nuisance candidates with 14 of them showing up yesterday to argue their cases before the poll body.

Among the first to be grilled was Theodore Aquino, who is facing a disqualification complaint from his supposed relative, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, a senatorial candidate under the Genuine Opposition (GO).

The other Aquino was practically grilled by the Comelec’s Second Division, headed by Commissioner Florentino Tuazon who noted his dual citizenship.

Tuazon said Aquino should have surrendered his American passport and certification of naturalization when he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Comelec.

Aquino’s lawyer Melvin Miranda, however, argued his client has already renounced his American citizenship in filing the COC.

But Tuazon replied the effort is not enough. He said Aquino should have executed a sworn statement expressly renouncing his US citizenship.

Aquino claimed the Comelec should have considered his candidacy since he was among the first to file a COC, ahead of the Tarlac congressman.

But he admitted having an idea that the Tarlac lawmaker, whom he claimed is his second cousin, is running for the Senate. He claimed their fathers are first cousins.

Others like Danton Remoto, the president of the gay-lesbian-transexual group "Ang Ladlad," tried to argue their case.

Remoto claimed his group has a strong mass base across the country while he himself possesses "excellent educational" background that qualifies him to be elected as a senator.

Remoto said his group is financially capable of launching a nationwide campaign, one of the basic requirements for Comelec to allow the COC of a candidate.