SC affirms DQ of four more presidential aspirants, five PL groups

The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed yesterday the rulings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that disqualified four more presidential aspirants and one senatorial bet for being nuisance candidates in the May elections.

The disqualified presidential candidates were Gerald Balta Arcega, Juanito Bombase Luna, Bethsaida D. Lopez, and Eric Abuyen Negapatan.

The disqualified senatorial candidate was identified as Emmanuel S. D. Lopez.

At the same time, the SC upheld the Comelec rulings that denied the registration and accreditation of five more party-list groups identified as Bisdak Higpong sa mga Bisaya Alang sa Kauswagan ug Kaangayan, Inc. (BISDAK), Isang Adbokasiya sa Alternatibong Panggagamot, Pagsasaka at Pangkabuhayan (1ASAPPP), Integrated Land and Agri Workers, Inc.(ILAW or ILAW Inc.), Pilipinos Aspiring for Country’s Yes-Man Advancement Organization (PACYAO), and Workers Advocating for Reform and Advancement of Yes-Man (WARAY).

The SC also denied with finality the motions for reconsideration filed Camilo Sabio, who had earlier been disqualified as a presidential candidate, and party-list groups Ating Aral Regional Sectoral Party, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Abante Bicol Oragon Philippines, Inc., United Women Against Poverty (UWAP), and the Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF).

The disqualification of Arcega, Luna, Lopez, and Negapatan brings to 20 the number of presidential candidates who have been declared nuisance bets.

Earlier disqualified by the Comelec and affirmed by the SC were former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr., Ranulfo Feliciano, Maria Aurora Marcos, Simeon de Castro, Dante Valencia, Rodel Mancilla, Pedrito Diaz Tagle, Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Juanita Trocenio, Ephraim Defino, Buenafe Briggs, Antonio Obiña, Luisito Falcon, Camilo Sabio and Vetellano Acosta.

There are now seven senatorial bets who have been declared nuisance candidates. Aside from Lopez, the others are Efren Bernabe, Mary Lou Estrada, Amay Bisaya nee Roberto Gloria Reyes, Roger Alim Rodriguez, Sixto Lagare, and Gion Villamor Gounet.

Disqualified as party- list groups were the United Towards Organic Development, Inc. (UTOD), Bantay Laban sa Kriminalidad (BALAK), Ang Kaliwat Partylist, Koalisyon at Aksyon Nagiimpok para sa Ekonomiya at Gabay ng mga Organisasyon ng Sambayanang May Yamang Oras [1-KANEGOSYO], and the Kapisanan ng mga Netizens sa Filipinas, Inc.

The other disqualified party- list groups were the Samahang Magbabasura, Inc., Abante Bicol OragonPhilippines, Inc., Peace Advocates and Reformation of Democratic System, Inc., Alliance of Cavite Land Reform Tenant Association, Inc., 1st Kabagis, Movement against Dynasty, Bukluran ng Malayang Mamamayan at Kawal sa Kuta Bonifacio, Aagapay sa mga Bata at Taong Kapus-Palad, Bumabagang Sigaw ng Lahing Kayumanggi Kalayaan sa Kahirapan, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Pilipino, and Kampilan ng Lakan, Inc.

Ang Bayaning Kawal at Pulis Incorporated (ABAKAP), Alyansa ng Katutubong Pilipino (AKAP), Association of Direct Vendors, Agents, Networking Circles, and Entrepreneurs (ADVANCE), Witnesses for a Transparent and Equitable Society, Lingap Balen, Sulong Katutubo, Ating Aral Regional (NCR) , Essential New Generation in Needs of Energy and Environment Resources Inc. (ENGINEER) , Philippine Alliance for Responsible Trade by Nation Builders, Alliance of Public Transport Organization,Inc. (I-APTO), Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP), Chronic Kidney Disease (Ang CKD), Angat Ahon Magsasaka, Inc. (AAM), Women and Child Crime Abuse Assistance (WACCAA), Ang Siguro, Inc., United Women Against Poverty (UWAP), and Isang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran (1-LAMBAT).