68 candidates face disqualification cases

MANILA, Philippines — At the end of the filing of certificates of candidacy on Oct. 17, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Clerk of the Commission received a total of 68 petitions for disqualification.

Former senator Mar Roxas leads the pack of petitioners, as he has asked the Comelec to disqualify Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino senatorial bet Jesus Roxas.    

Sen. Loren Legarda, on the other hand, is facing two disqualification cases filed by former Antique governor Exquiel Javier and a certain Robin Rubinor.

Legarda, who is serving her last term in the Senate, aims to represent the lone district of Antique. 

Former Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno, who is seeking the top post in the country’s capital, filed a disqualification case against another mayoralty candidate – Onofre Estrada Abad.

Re-electionist Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro also filed disqualification cases against rivals Marjoy Villoso and Lorderito Nebres.

Another re-electionist, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, sought the disqualification of opponents Rufino Bayon-on, Maximo Tonelino, Edgardo Sevilla, Ronnie Malunes and Emil Trinidad.

Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla filed separate disqualification cases against mayoralty aspirants Tranquilino Estrada and Emelita Villar.

Cebu Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, who is running for governor, faces two disqualification cases filed by Edgar Gica and Norma Pozon.

Other prominent candidates who have filed disqualification cases against their rivals are Quezon City vice mayoralty bet Gian Carlo Sotto, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano. 

Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday reiterated that the poll body is no longer accepting Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs).

Guanzon explained that party-list groups that were unable to submit their CONAs on time would be considered as independent candidates.

“(They) were told of the deadline way in advance,” Guanzon pointed out.