‘Exclude Señeres in May ballots’

MANILA, Philippines – The family of the late OFW Family Club Rep. Roy Señeres yesterday moved for his exclusion from the official ballots to be used in the May 9 elections.

In a “Very Urgent Manifestation and Motion” filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by his lawyer Candy Rivas, the Señeres family also moved that no substitute be named as standard-bearer of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka-Workers and Peasant Party (PMM-WPP).

“Before the death of the late Cong. Roy Señeres, his last wishes were – no substitution for presidency, no endorsement for president,” the motion read.

The motion also stated that to maintain the legacy of his name through the party-list group, Señeres wanted his son and namesake to be the number one nominee of the organization in the coming elections.

Señeres also wanted the acronym of the party-list to be retained in the ballots.

But the Señeres family’s manifestation runs against the position of PMM-WPP secretary general Melchor Chavez, who filed a “Notice of Death” and moved that the late congressman’s slot in the ballot be filled by a nominee as his replacement.

Yesterday, Apolonia Comia-Soguilon went to the Comelec to file a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance indicating she was being endorsed by PMM-WPP as Señeres’ replacement.

Asked about this, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the commission would have to discuss the matter.

As a policy in case of death, the substitute must come from the same political party and should have the same surname as the one being replaced.