The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that 14 senatorial aspirants among the 177 individuals declared nuisance candidates for the May 2025 midterm elections have filed motions for reconsideration (MRs) before the poll body.
Among those who filed MRs were internet personality Norman Mangusin, popularly known as Francis Leo Marcos who falsely claimed to be a son of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The others were former journalist Bertini Causing, Felipe Fernandez Montealto Jr., Orlando Caranto De Guzman, Jaime Gaspacho Balmas, Pedro Gonzales Ordiales, John Rafael Campang Escobar, Roberto Sontosidad Sembrano, Romulo Tindoc San Ramon, Fernando Fabian Diaz, Luther Gascon Meniano, Romeo Castro Macaraeg, Subair Guinthum Mustapha and Alexander Cura Encarnacion.
Comelec said that under Philippine election laws, the concept of nuisance candidates intends to ensure the electoral process’ integrity by preventing the proliferation of candidates whose purpose is not to run for office genuinely but to confuse voters, make a mockery of the elections, or cause disrepute to the candidacy of legitimate aspirants.
The poll body likewise clarified the “nuisance” tag is not actually being attached to the candidates themselves, but to the candidacy that would disrupt the whole process.
A total of 183 individuals formalized their intentions to run for senator in next year’s election.
Earlier, Comelec released the 66 list of senatorial aspirants whose names may be included in the official ballot for next year’s elections. It said the list was “without prejudice to the decision of the Division or En Banc in the petitions to declare as nuisance candidates filed by the Law Department.”
