Comelec disqualifies 17 local candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Monday disqualified 17 local candidates in the May 10 automated elections most of them for being nuisance candidates. In a resolution, the poll body declared as nuisance candidates Alexander Castillo (running for mayor in Bacoor, Cavite); Rodrigo Tuazon and Alex Tuazon (first district representative in Western Samar); Voltaire Lluch (mayor, Iligan City); and Rodolfo Socrates (second district representative, Palawan). Alex Paglomutan (councilor, Bacolod City); Aurelio Dela Cruz (vice mayor of Bugasong, Antique); Salvador Beo, Sr. (vice mayor, Malabon City); Jose Grafil (councilor in Bulan, Sorsogon); and Wilfredo Balais (mayor in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte) were likewise declared nuisance candidates. Also disqualified were Samuel Ronquillo (mayor in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur); Hilario Fieror (mayor in Rizal, Cagayan); Raymond Casillano (vice mayor in Borongan, Eastern Samar); and Anecity Lozada (governor in Surigao del Sur). The Comelec also junked the candidacies of Angelito Calderon (mayor in Taytay, Rizal); Elgie Chua (vice mayor in Rosario, Agusan del Sur); and Faridah Tantao (vice mayor in Madalum, Lanao del Sur). The candidates’ names will be deleted from the certified list of local candidates even if their names were already printed in the ballots, the Comelec said in its resolution. Votes for these candidates would be considered stray. —Nikka Corsino/KBK, GMANews.TV