(Eagle News) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Andres Bautista explained to the public why the name of the late party-list representative Roy Seneres was still included among the list of presidential candidates in the ballots for the May 9 elections.
Bautista cited Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, Seneres’ party is still given the opportunity to have a substitute candidate up to election day.
Aside from this, the Supreme Court has also issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) regarding the Comelec’s decision to retain Seneres’ name.
The former ambassador’s political party Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka has filed a manifestation and petition with the Comelec, naming his replacement.
Party secretary-general Mel Chavez said they have chosen lawyer Apolonia Soguilon as the replacement candidate.
The party has already filed a “notice of death” before the poll body, asking the Comelec not to remove Señeres’ name from the official ballot.
However, at around 4 p.m. on February 9, Seneres’ family also filed a manifestation asking the Comelec to remove his name in the ballot.
