LIBERAL Party (LP) standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has challenged the candidacy of his opponent, Vetellano Acosta, before the poll body Friday.
In his motion to intervene with opposition, Aquino specified that Acosta is not a member of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) as he earlier proclaimed.
Acosta's name was included in the list of presidential candidates after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reversed its earlier decision declaring him as a nuisance candidate.
According to the poll body, Acosta was reconsidered because he has submitted a nomination from KBL.
But Aquino argued that Acosta "has not been duly nominated by the KBL" because he failed to submit KBL's nomination before the deadline of filing of certificate of candidacies (COC) on December 1.
Aquino's lawyers, Sixto Brillante and Juanito Arcilla, urged the commission to schedule a hearing on their plea on January 18 so evidence can be presented to "prove that there were numerous deliberate conspiratorial misrepresentations made to make it appear that Acosta is a legitimate candidate for President running under the wing of KBL".
The LP bet furthered that if Acosta's name will be added in the ballot, his name will be placed second next to Acosta, which could affect his chances of winning.
The motion also cited a study called "ballot order effect" conducted by University of Vermont researchers which explains that the first name appearing on the ballot will receive two-and-a-half percent extra votes than those lifted after.
"Intervener has a legal and actual interest in the order or names of candidates for President because empirical findings from various researches prove that the order in which the candidates' names are listed on election ballots has a discernable effect on the vote share that candidates receive," the motion added.
Aquino also argued that the passport of Acosta spells out his name as 'Vetellano' while his CoC states that it is 'Vetallano'.
In his COC, Acosta declared that he was not nominated by any party and thus considered as an independent candidate.
Known Marcos loyalist and KBL member lawyer Oliver Lozano, meanwhile, filed his COC as "Independent - KBL." Lozano was denied by the poll body to pursue his bid.
Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal told reporters that the en banc will look into the issue. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)