Comelec en banc: Zoilo Cortes, Jr., a nuisance candidate

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City mayoralty candidate Zoilo Cortes, Jr. reportedly lacks the intention to run for the position for which he filed his certificate of candidacy and was merely intended to confuse the voters, says the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc.

The Comelec en banc denied Cortes’ motion for reconsideration and sustained the Comelec second division’s earlier decision declaring him as a nuisance candidate.

“We agree with the findings of the Commission's Second Division that evidence shows Respondent lacks a bona fide intention to run for the position for which he filed his COC,” the Comelec en banc ruled on December 13, 2024.

According to the poll body, Zoilo’s lack of political presence and his behavior in promoting a vague or undefined advocacy belies any genuine aspiration to serve the public.

“His candidacy appears intended solely to confuse voters due to the similarity of his name with Petitioner,” the en banc resolution read.

Another mayoralty candidate, Joey Cortes, sought the cancellation of Zoilo’s COC on the ground of being a nuisance candidate.

Both Zoilo and Joey filed their respective COCs for the position of mayor of Mandaue City on October 8, 2024. But Joy claimed Zoilo only intends to make a mockery of the elections.

Based on the Comelec Tentative List of Candidates for Local Positions in Region 7, specifically in Mandaue City, it noted that Zoilo’s name to appear on the ballot was supposed to be Cortes, Doc-Jojo, while for Joey Cortes, his name to appear on the ballot is Cortes, Jo.

Earlier, the Second Division noted that Zoilo and Joey share the same surname, which raises significant legal and electoral implications, particularly with regard to potential voter confusion—a fundamental concern in ensuring free, fair, and orderly elections.

The division acknowledged that Joey has prior electoral experience and cannot be considered a novice in the political landscape, thus granting his petition.

The Comelec en banc emphasized that Zoilo’s motion for reconsideration failed to raise valid grounds, adding that the Second Division’s resolution was “neither without sufficient basis found in the records, nor contrary to law.”

It further noted that the arguments raised in the motion for reconsideration were a “mere rehash of arguments and positions already raised and discussed,” which had been thoroughly reviewed and incisively examined by the Second Division before deciding to cancel Zoilo’s COC.

Zoilo is a cousin of dismissed Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes, who is also running for the same position. — /FPL (FREEMAN)