SC upholds disqualification of 6 more presidential bets

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the disqualification of six more presidential aspirants earlier declared nuisance by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The high court dismissed in regular session yesterday 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 in the May 9 elections.

In a press conference, SC spokesman Theodore Te said 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 (PCGG) chief Camilo Sabio and independent candidates Vetallano Acosta, Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Juanita Trocenio, Ephraim Defino, Buenafe Briggs, Antonio Obiña and Luisito Falcon.

Apart from presidential aspirants, the SC also sided with the poll body in the latter’s decision to disqualify 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 Rodriguez and Sixto Lagare.