SC junks petition of Senate bet vs Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by senatorial aspirant Fernando Diaz against the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier cancelled his certificate of candidacy due to his lack of financial capability to mount a national campaign.

In a resolution signed by SC clerk of court Felipa Anama, the magistrates said Diaz failed to support his claim that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it declared him a nuisance candidate on Dec. 3 and 17.

The high court said the poll body did not err in its assessment of Diaz. 

It said that while the senatorial aspirant may have claimed to have at least P118.8 million in ready campaign funds, the Comelec noted that a large portion of the amount was just monetary pledges and is not yet at his disposal.

“Pending determination of who shall be the authorized signatories of the political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, of which Diaz alleged to be the official nominee, the Comelec correctly ruled that it could not pass upon the validity of the said nomination,” the SC said.

The high court said that assuming there were other parties that invited Diaz as a guest candidate, “the fact remains that he is not a member of any political party to support his candidacy.”