Sanchez wife can't run on behalf of late husband — Comelec

After death of former Batangas governor Armando Sanchez, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday that the candidate's wife, Sto. Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez, will probably not be allowed to replace him. In an interview with reporters, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said a person can only become a substitute for the Nacionalista Party (NP) bet if he or she is comes from the same party and is not running for any other position in the May polls. "Whoever is fit to substitute for them can run on behalf of him (but)... you cannot change positions anymore, this will leave a vacancy. The substitute should (also) come from the same party or coalition," Jimenez said. Law Department head Ferdinand Rafanan likewise confirmed in a text message that the substitute must not be running for another position and must be his party-mate. Earlier in the day, the NP released a statement saying that while it has yet to decide who will officially replace Sanchez in the Batangas gubernatorial race, the late governor's wife was being considered. [See: Wife may take place of Sanchez in gubernatorial race — Villar]

Running for reelection Although Edna Sanchez is a member of NP, she is running for reelection as Santo Tomas mayor. She will be up against Osmundo Maldia Maligaya of the Liberal Party in the May polls. Armando Sanchez's running mate, Edwin Ramos Ermita, is also running for vice governor and is listed as a member of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in the official list of candidates. He will be running against Liberal Party's Jose Antonio Leviste for the post. Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code allows for a substitute candidate in case an official candidate "dies, withdraws, or is disqualified for any cause" even until mid-day of election day. Poll body chief Jose Melo, however, had earlier said that they will only allow substitute candidates for official candidates who die or are disqualified. As for the votes, Jimenez said a vote for the substituted candidate will be a vote for the substitute. The one who will replace Sanchez will be up against independent candidates Marcos Millares Mandanas and Gaudioso Ortilla Platero, and Liberal Party's Vilma Santos-Recto. The lawyer of Sanchez had even earlier filed a disqualification case against Santos-Recto for her supposedly oversize public service announcements. Sanchez was rushed to the Mary Medtiarix Medical Center in Lipa City Monday afternoon after collapsing during a campaign sortie there. He passed away at around 7:20pm on Tuesday. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV