42 Senate bets up for disqualification await final word from Comelec

The Commission on Election (Comelec) clarified yesterday that the 42 senatorial candidates reported eliminated from the May 2007 elections are not yet officially out of the race.

Rather, the idependent bets have only failed the initial screening of the poll body’s law department and that final decision lies with the Comelec en banc, said lawyer Josslyn de Mesa of the Comelec’s law department.

"It’s not yet final. The (Comelec) en banc has the final say, not the law department," De Mesa told The STAR.

A total of 80 people have filed their certificate of candidacy (COC), declaring their intention to join the senatorial elections in May. But of these, the COCs of only 32 candidates have been recommended by the law department for the entire body to give "due course."

Among them are the 24 candidates of the administration’s Team Unity and the opposition’s Grand Coalition, former senator Gregorio Honasan and movie and television actor Richard Gomez.

The nominees of all local political parties were also included, such as Joselito Pepito "Peter" Cayetano, a namesake of Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who was nominated by the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said they would summon the 42 candidates anytime this week to explain why they should not be delisted from the list of senatorial bets.

Abalos added the poll body would primarily want to know if the candidates have the capability to wage a national campaign.

The Comelec will also check the intentions of a candidate in running. For bets who happen to be a namesake of a popular candidate, the poll body will determine if his intention in running is to cause confusion, harming his rival’s candidacy. – Sheila Crisostomo