27 bets qualified to run for Senate

MANILA (Updated) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed 27 out of 84 aspirants to run for Senate in the 2013 midterm polls, while the 59 others will have to appear before the poll body to "to justify the legitimacy of their candidacies."

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday the commission has given due course to the complete senatorial slates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and the Liberal Party (LP) coalition, and several independent candidates.

Barring any disqualification cases against them, the Comelec said it has agreed to give due course to the certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the position of senator to 27 aspirants.

For the LP coalition, allowed to run were Juan Edgardo Angara (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino); Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal, and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (LP); Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party); Ana Theresia Hontiveros (Akbayan); and Aquilino Martin Pimentel III (PDP- Laban).

As for UNA, qualified to run were Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay, Margarita Cojuangco, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Ernesto Maceda, Maria Milagros Esperanza Magsaysay, and Juan Miguel Zubiri (UNA); and Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (Nationalist People's Coalition).

The three common candidates of the two line ups, namely Lorna Legarda (Nationalist People's Coalition); and independents Francis Joseph Escudero, and Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares were also allowed to run.

The Comelec also ruled to allow ANG Kapatiran's John Carlos De Los Reyes, Marwil Llasos, and Rizalito David; Makabayan's Teodoro Casiño; and independents Edward Hagedorn, and Ramon Montaño.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez clarified that the list issued by the commission en banc is not the official list yet. He said the Comelec will have to wait until the deadline of the filing of substitutes, which is on December 21.

Comelec rules provide that the petitions to deny due course must be filed within five days from the last day for filing of COCs but not later than 25 days from the time of filing of the COC.

On the other hand, the Comelec has set for hearing on October 18 and 19 the 57 remaining applicants to determine the sufficiency and legitimacy of their candidacies.

Those who will be called for the October 18 hearing at Comelec are:

* Baguio, Florentino F.
* Bantolo, Rosario S.
* Bernardino, Aeric P.
* Bula, Leonardo C.
* Cabrera, Rafael M.
* Cadag, Victorio Angelo A.
* Cailing, Patrocino A.
* Capular, Elizabeth S.
* Dazo, Catalino A.
* Dimaya, Arsenio T.
* Donato, Juanito E.
* Escosura, Anicio B.
* Espinosa, Manuel P.
* Factor, Generoso J.
* Fernandez, Eduardo Syamasundar-Das P.
* Garay, Roque F.
* Gorostiza, Byron Adriano D.
* Handumon, Benjamin Jr., S.
* Insigne, Manuel E.?
* Jolongbayan, Edwin S.
* Lacan Luisong Tagean, Salam Ed Jr., E.
* Lagata, Merlito O.
* Lawag, Victor S.
* Lope, Wendell H.
* Magtira, Daniel R.
* Mascuenda, Severo Jr. L.
* Mandap, Elena L.?
* Ning, Carlito P.
* Nocon, Valeriano III P.
* Penson, Richard L.
* Po, Manuel A.
* Rirao, Marlon G.
* Rojas, Ericson Eli Felix B.
* Salangsang, Pepito S.
* Santosidad, Rebecca C.
* Soriano, Cosme Omie P.
* Suerte, Orlando G.
* Sulibit, Nonato M.
* Talag, Alfonso, Jr. E.
* Tomol, Rogelio C.
* Villamor, Ulyn E.

In the hearing on October 19, expected to attend are:

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

* Abella, Alma L.
* Chavez, Melchor G.
* Gundayao, Virgilio G.
* Lozano, Oliver U.
* Nueva, Norma C.
* Pancho, Jr. Wenceslao P.
* Wood, Victor N.

Democratic Party of the Philippines

* Belgica, Greco Antonious Beda B.
* Falcone, Baldomero C.
* Señeres, Christian M.

Social Justice Society

* Alcantara, Samson S.

Independent candidates

* Cadion, Leo M.
* Galang, Virgilio J.
* Ajel, Remelyn T.
* Marcos, Francis Leo A.
* Sy, Johnny Chris H.

There were a total of 84 individuals who filed their COCs to run for senator during the five-day period given by the Comelec, which ended October 5. (FP/HDT/Sunnex)