Comelec confirms Marcoleta substitution as SAGIP representative

MANILA, Philippines — After withdrawing his senatorial bid in the May 9 polls, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta has secured a seat in the House of Representatives after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted and approved his nomination to the Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP) party-list group.

In a statement, Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco yesterday said that Marcoleta was named as the new second nominee of SAGIP party-list after the original second, third, fourth and fifth nominees of the group resigned on April 29, or a few days before he withdrew his senatorial bid on April 21.

SAGIP secured two seats in the 19th Congress. Its original first nominee Caroline Tanchay retained her nomination, which means Tanchay and Marcoleta will occupy SAGIP’s seats in Congress.

Marcoleta replaced the original second nominee Erlinda Santiago, while new nominees Jocelyn Bituin, Ruth Bajas and Alvino Cruz replaced Kristine Angela Redoble, Francis Santos and Emelinda San Jose as third, fourth and fifth nominees, respectively.

Laudiangco said that the en banc granted on May 11 – or two days after the May 9 polls – the withdrawal of nominations and “note the new nominations, with the list of nominees not having been exhausted, as the Nominee No. 1 remained therein.”

“On Election Laws and Rules none, on those who withdrew their candidacy prior to the election,” Laudiangco said when asked if there is an existing rule prohibiting candidates who withdrew before election day to assume a different post.

He added that Marcoleta secured the seat on May 25 after the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, computed that SAGIP secured two seats in the House of Representatives.