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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Six nuisance bets delisted; Comelec sets ‘shame’ drive

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The Supreme Court has affirmed  the delisting of six more presidential aspirants for the May polls earlier declared nuisance by  the Commission on Elections.

During its en banc session, the SC dismissed the separate petitions filed by Ranulfo Feliciano, Ma. Aurora Marcos, Simeon De Castro Jr., Dante Valencia, Rodel Mancilla and Pedrito Diaz Tagle questioning the decisions of the Comelec to cancel their Certificates of Candidacy for president.   

SC spokesman Theodore Te revealed that the tribunal   has ruled that the Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion   in disqualifying the six candidates.  

Earlier, the high court upheld the disqualification of nine other presidential candidates—former Presidential Commission on   Good Government chief Camilo Sabio and independent candidates Vetallano Acosta, Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Juanita Trocenio,  Ephraim Defino, Buenafe Briggs, Antonio Obiña and Luisito Falcon.   

The tribunal also sided with the Comelec in disqualifying vice presidential aspirant Teodulo Malangen and  senatorial candidates Efren Bernabe,  Mary Lou Estrada, Roberto Gloria   Reyes (more popularly known as comedian Amay Bisaya), Roger Alim

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Rodriguez and Sixto Lagare. 

The SC also junked the petitions of 11   more disqualified party-list groups: Samahang Magbabasura Inc., Abante Bicol Oragon—Philippines Inc., Peace Advocates and Reformation of Democratic System Inc., Alliance of Cavite Land Reform Tenant

Association Inc., 1st Kabagis, Movement Against Dynasty, Bukluran ng   Malayang Mamamayan at Kawal sa Kuta Bonifacio, Aagapay sa mga Bata at   Taong Kapus-Palad, Bumabagang Sigaw ng Lahing Kayumanggi Kalayaan sa   Kahirapan, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Pilipino and Kampilan ng Lakad Inc.

Lastly, the high court affirmed it earlier ruling dismissing the petitions of   Pamatong and party-list groups Mindanao Alliance for Reforms   and   Political Party of the People’s Movement for Democratic Governance.

As this developed, the Comelec  gave all candidates one week or until Feb. 9, 2016 to tear down their unlawful campaign materials or face charges and end up on the poll body’s “shame” website.

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista told the reporters that the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority will start dismantling and penalizing those campaign materials that were posted on prohibited walls or outside the designated areas.    

Bautista made the warning after the Comelec signed a memoranda of agreement (MOA) with the DPWH and MMDA on “Operation Baklas (Dismantle)”, where staff of the said agencies will be authorized to take down all posters, billboards, and other campaign materials outside the designated areas.

DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson for his part said that photos of illegal campaign materials will be taken before these are dismantled.

“That will be part of our documentation and we will send to Comelec all dismantled materials and the documentation from where we took  them,”  he  said.

Candidates are not supposed to  put up posters, stickers, and campaign materials on trees or plants, main roads, lamp posts, sidewalks, and overpasses.

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