SC junks petitions of disqualified presidential bets vs Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) in full session yesterday affirmed the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s dismissal of the presidential bids of former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chief Camilo Sabio and independent candidate Vetallano Acosta.

SC spokesman Theodore Te said the SC sided with the Comelec on the separate petitions filed by Sabio and Acosta, saying the poll body canceled their respective certificates of candidacy (COCs) for their being nuisance candidates.

The SC “dismissed the petitions on the ground that the Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion.”

The magistrates also used the same ground when it dismissed the case filed by senatorial aspirant Gion Villamor Gounet.

The high court also dismissed for lack of merit the petition for mandamus requesting for the inclusion of the following choices “None Of The Above (NOTA)” and “The Above Only (TAO)” as choices for voters in the May 9 polls.

Petitioner

Eduardo Bringas wanted NOTA to be made an option for the positions of president, vice president, members of the House of Representatives, governor, vice governor, mayor and vice mayor.

On the other hand, voters may shade TAO for the positions of senator, sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panglungsod, sangguniang bayan, based on Bringas petition.