SC order on nuisance bet affects Sotto, Quiboloy’s ballot numbers
Comelec chair George Garcia speaking in a news conference at the Comelec BARMM regional office hours before the acceptance of COCs by the poll body. (Photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 by DXMS RADIO.)
MANILA, Philippines — About a dozen senatorial aspirants who already printed their corresponding ballot numbers in their campaign materials will have to change their number in their paraphernalia again.
This move comes after the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to allow a designated nuisance candidate to run for midterm polls.
The SC on Wednesday blocked the move of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare Subair Guinthum Mustapha as a nuisance candidate, making the total number of senatorial aspirants to 67.
“The [last] name of the candidate for the national position for Senator is letter M, and therefore, once we insert his name, twelve candidates will be affected,” Garcia said partly in Filipino during a press conference.
Garcia later clarified that only the numbering of candidates whose last name begins from M to S will be affected.
Article continues after this advertisementRe-electionists like former senators Manny Pacquiao, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and ex-Senate President Vicente Sotto III will be affected by the adjustment.
Article continues after this advertisementProminent personalities like Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Dr. Willie Ong, and TV host Willie Revillame will likewise be affected.
They include re-electionists like former senators Manny Pacquiao, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, ex-Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Francis Tolentino.
Prominent personalities like Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Dr. Willie Ong, TV host Willie Revillame, ACT CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo and journalist Ben Tulfo will likewise be affected.“They might have printed [election materials] with their names and numbers, but that is a part of the consequence,” he said.
The numbering of candidates after Chavit Singson—who will soon withdraw from the Senate race—will not be affected, Garcia said.
Eight candidates including ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, journalist Ben Tulfo, and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, will retain their original numbers.
