At least 66 senatorial aspirants out of the 183 filers are assured of being in the official ballot for the May 2025 midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body’s Law Department is expected to submit its recommendations in November on who will be retained, removed, and be declared nuisance candidates for next year’s polls.
However, the number may still increase, Garcia added.
Garcia reiterated that the poll body will complete resolving nuisance cases by November 30, before the printing of the official ballots for the 2025 national National and Local Elections.
“As of today, 66 hopefuls will be included in the list of legitimate, valid, and true candidates for next year’s elections,” Garcia said.
Other senatorial aspirants are facing various issues, including those whose parties issued two certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs).
Garcia said the Comelec received five petitions to cancel the certificates of candidacy of some local bets who were declared by the Ombudsman as perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
He said petitions were also filed against several allegedly nuisance candidates with the Comelec on Friday, saying they received 5 petitions from Bicol, Batangas, and Cebu.
Under the Comelec guidelines, petitioners have until October 14 to file a petition to declare aspirants as nuisance candidates.
