Francis Leo Marcos, 13 other ‘nuisance’ candidates oppose Comelec tag

Businessman and internet personality Francis Leo Marcos was arrested by the NBI on Tuesday for alleged violations of the optometry law filed against him in Baguio City. | PHOTO: Marianne Bermudez/Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) divisions have so far declared 14 aspirants for the 2025 polls as “nuisance candidates.” Now, they are in an uproar rejecting the label.
Among the 14 individuals who are rejecting the “nuisance” tag is internet personality Norman Mangusin, who uses the name Francis Leo Marcos.
He was allowed to run for senator in the 2021 elections, but the Comelec first division blocked his senatorial bid this time.
In 2021, petitioners against the candidacy of Francis Leo Marcos told the poll body that he ran to put the election process in mockery or disrepute since he had no bona fide intention to run for senator.
But the Comelec second division favored Mangusin at that time, noting that the social media personality is “popular” and “was able to establish that he has a significant modicum of support, which is enough basis to have his name printed on the ballot.”
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Article continues after this advertisementComelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said Thursday that Mangusin filed a motion for reconsideration to contest the decision of the Comelec first division.
The 13 others also filed their respective motions for resconsideration before the Comelec en banc, which shall decide on their cases.
The 13 aspirants that were likewise declared nuisance candidates are:
- Felipe Fernandez Montealto Jr.
- Orlando Caranto De Guzman
- Jaime Gaspacho Balmas
- Pedro Gonzales Ordiales
- John Rafael Campang Escobar
- Roberto Sontosidad Sembrano
- Romulo Tindoc San Ramon
- Fernando Fabian Diaz
- Luther Gascon Meniano
- Romeo Castro Macaraeg
- Subair Guinthum Mustapha
- Berteni Cataluña Causing
- Alexander Cura Encarnacion
Garcia said that if the en banc ruled to dismiss their motions for reconsideration, they can elevate their cases the Supreme Court.
READ: Comelec approves Senate run of 66 bets
A total of 183 individuals formalized their intentions to run for senator in next year’s election. Last month, the Comelec said it approved the candidacies of 66 senatorial aspirants.
Through Resolution No. 24-0824, the Comelec en banc, adopting the recommendations of the Comelec law department, said 66 candidates were in the “partial/initial” list of those considered legitimate or valid candidates, of which 47 belong to major and minor political parties and 17 are independents.
Also last month, the poll body said it endorsed the filing of petitions to declare 117 other senatorial aspirants as nuisance candidates.