House Speaker Martin Romualdez is now running for re-election as Leyte representative with no legitimate challengers after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) found his lone rival to be an unregistered voter of Tacloban.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) George Garcia reported on Friday that Romilda Bacale, who is seeking a congressional seat to represent the first district of Leyte against Romualdez, is now disqualified. Her name will, therefore, not be included in the official ballot.
“She is not a registered voter of Tacloban. She moved from Sampaloc. The ERB (Election Registration Board) and the courts denied it. The decision became final and executory,” Garcia told reporters in a message rendered partly in Tagalog.
The Comelec chief issued the clarification after Bacale’s non-inclusion in the official ballot was questioned on social media.
Garcia also said the poll body accepted the recommendation of its lawyers to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Melody Anne Benitez, citing a 2010 Civil Service Commission decision barring her from holding a public office.
Benitez is running for vice mayor of Caraga, Davao Oriental. Her name will also be officially removed in the certified list of candidates for local government positions in the 2025 elections.