Other Cayetano disqualified from Senate race

A P10,000 monthly income is not sufficient for a senatorial candidate to wage a national campaign.

And because of this, the first division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Joselito Cayetano, official senatorial candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, from running in the May 14 elections.

Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano thanked the Comelec for disqualifying his namesake.

"I thank members of the first division. They did not succumb to pressure from a powerful man who wanted that Joselito be allowed to pursue his candidacy so that votes for Cayetano without the first name or nickname would be invalidated," he said.

Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner said that the poll body’s first division disqualified Joselito Cayetano because he does not have the capacity to wage a national campaign for the May 14 senatorial race.

"He is working as a mere clerk for a stevedoring firm in Davao, earning P10,000 a month and he is virtually unknown and yet he is running for a lofty position," Brawner, who penned the 27-page ruling, said in an interview with reporters.

Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said the other Cayetano’s disqualification was a unanimous decision of the poll body’s first division.

However, Congressman Cayetano’s tribulation is not yet over.

Pepito Cayetano’s name is still included in the official list released by the Comelec yesterday, along with 36 other candidates for senator.

Brawner said that Joselito, who also uses the nickname Pepito, could still appeal the decision five days after its promulgation before the Comelec en banc.

And even if the en banc upholds the first division’s decision, Pepito Cayetano can still bring the matter up to the Supreme Court.

Only when the Supreme Court decides with finality on his case will his name be stricken off the official list of senatorial candidates.

In the meantime, because his name is still in the official list, Borra said votes for "Cayetano" alone would be still be considered stray.

But, he said, the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, would determine whether the votes would be credited to Rep. Cayetano.

Though Cayetano the lawmaker did not name the "powerful man," he was obviously referring to First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. He has claimed that the President’s husband was behind Joselito’s candidacy. Mr. Arroyo has denied the claim.

Rep. Cayetano said the first division’s decision can be appealed to the entire Comelec, but he added he hoped the commission would uphold the decision as soon as possible.

"We need to continue to be vigilant against this powerful man because if Joselito were disqualified, he wants me disqualified too," he said.

Not a US citizen

Former Pateros mayor Jose Capco has filed a disqualification case against his congressman, claiming the latter is an American citizen.

Cayetano has submitted to the Comelec evidence proving he is a Filipino citizen, including his Philippine passport on which his tourist visa to the United States is stamped.

"Is there a US citizen who needs a visa to enter the US?" he asked during a Comelec hearing.

Meanwhile, fellow GO candidates expressed elation over the Comelec first division’s decision to disqualify Joselito Cayetano.

"I hope it will soon become final and executory so that there will no longer be any technicality as regards Alan Peter’s candidacy," said House Minority Leader Francis Escudero.

"And I reserve any praise for the Comelec en banc until it upholds the ruling of its first division," he said.

For his part, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino said he was "very glad that Alan’s case has been resolved appropriately and that justice has been served."

The three congressmen who are seeking Senate seats have been doing well in surveys. They are all in the winning circle of 12.– With Jess Diaz