(from left) Jad Racal (Disqualified Bulacan 6th District Representative candidate) (Comelec) Commissioner George Erwin Garcia and Edgar Erice (Disqualified Caloocan City 2nd District Representative candidate)

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia thumbed down on hopes of any candidate still seeking for their names to still be included in the ballots barely a week into the May 12 midterm elections even if they win their appeals in the Supreme Court. 

“Unfortunately po, at this point, ay baka po hindi na po mapalad na mailagay ang pangalan,” Garcia said in an interview on DZRH.

This is because official ballots have been printed and distributed to various parts of the country. At this point, ballot distribution has been fully accomplished in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and Comelec efforts are now solely concentrated in the National Capital Region. 

“Wala na, manipis na ang tsansa na magkaroon pa ng pagsusulat ulit sa balota yung kanilang mga pangalan,” Garcia said. 

Earlier this year, lawyer Romulo Macalintal said there was an “imperative need” for the poll body to include, at that time, 13 disqualified bets who are awaiting action from the High Court.

Garcia said this would be a precedent in future elections since all disqualified candidates will surely take their appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) which is their right. 

Source: Pleyto FB

He however has clarified that even if a hundred candidates take their case to the SC it does not mean the Comelec will put their names on the ballot citing executory decisions and ballot length. 

So far the Comelec has declared a number of candidates nuisance or those whose names were removed from the ballot for discrediting the election process, causing confusion or whose actions lack genuine intent to run for office. 

In a text message to Republika News, Garcia said the Comelec has so far declared nuisance 117 national and 230 local candidates. 

Among them were Charles Savellano (Ilocos Sur’s 1st District Representative), Chito Bulatao Balintay (Zambales Governor), Edgar Erice (Caloocan City 2nd District Representative) and Jad Racal (Bulacan 6th District Representative) among many others. 

Even with days left before the elections, Garcia has warned that more issuances of show cause orders and disqualification cases against erring candidates. 

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