The Supreme Court has affirmed the disqualification of four more presidential candidates earlier declared nuisance by the Commission on Elections.
During an en banc session on Tuesday, the SC dismissed the petitions of Gerald Arcega, Juanito Luna, Bethsaida Lopez and Eric Negapatan assailing the Comelec ruling to cancel their Certificates of Candidacy for president for being nuisance.
The high court ruled that the Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying the presidential aspirants.
Earlier, the SC upheld the disqualification of 16 other presidential candidates—former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director and Iloilo Rep. Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, former Presidential Commission on Good Government chief Camilo Sabio and independent candidates Vetallano Acosta, Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Juanita Trocenio, Ephraim Defino, Buenafe Briggs, Antonio Obiña, Luisito Falcon, Ranulfo Feliciano, Ma. Aurora Marcos, Simeon De Castro Jr., Dante Valencia, Rodel Mancilla and Pedrito Diaz Tagle.
The tribunal also junked a similar petition filed by disqualified senatorial candidate Emmanuel Lopez.
It also junked the petitions of four more disqualified party-list groups: Bidsak Higpong sa mga Bisaya Alang sa Kauswagan ug Kaangayan Inc., Isang Adbokasiya sa Alternatibong Panggagamot, Pagsasaka at Pangkabuhayan, Integrated Land and Agri Workers Inc. and Pilipinos Aspiring for Country’s Yes-Man Advancement Organization or Workers Advocating for Reform and Advancement of Yes-Man.
The SC ruled that the Comelec was correct in disqualifying the groups.
It had already dismissed similar petitions of 18 other disqualified party-list groups: Mindanao Alliance for Reforms (MAR), Political Party of the People’s Movement for Democratic Governance (PMDG), Samahang Magbabasura Inc., Abante Bicol Oragon – Philippines 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 ant Taong Kapus-Palad, Bumabagang Sigaw ng Lahing Kayumanggi Kalayaan sa Kahirapan, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Pilipino, Kampilan ng Lakad Inc., United Towards Organic Development Inc. (UTOD), Bantay Laban sa Kriminalidad (BALAK), Ang Kaliwat Partylist, Koalisyon at Aksyon Nag-iimpok para sa Ekonomiya at Gabay ng mga Organisasyon ng Sambayanang May Yamang Oras (1-KANEGOSYO) and the Kapisanan ng mga Netizens sa Filipinas.