Señeres's last wish: No substitute candidate

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino Workers' Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres Sr., who passed away on Monday, did not want any substitute presidential candidate to be fielded in his place, his family said.

Señeres's daughter, Hannah, filed on Tuesday a "very urgent" motion at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ask that his late father would not be replaced in the poll body's final list of candidates, saying this was among his last wishes.

Señeres, who was 68, died of cardiac arrest early Monday triggered by complications from diabetes. He announced an exit from the presidential race last week, citing health reasons.

RELATED: Days after quitting presidential race, Señeres dies at 68

Hannah said her father also refused to endorse any of the five remaining presidential candidates, namely Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

"Before the death of late Congressman Roy V. Señeres, his last wishes were as follows: No substitution for presidency; no endorsement for presidency; to maintain the legacy of his name through the OFW Family Club party-list whereas Roy Señeres Sr. is the No. 1 nominee; and that the acronym OFW Family Club Party-list be maintained in the ballots," the motion read.

Señeres's family also asked the Comelec to remove his name from the ballots, which are yet to be printed as of press time.

In another motion filed earlier on Tuesday, Señeres's political affiliate Workers and Peasants Party urged the Comelec to declare the slot for presidential bets vacant following the death of the lawmaker. — Camille Diola