Alan Peter Cayetano has a rival for the Senate, a guy named Joselito “Peter” Cayetano.
Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez III, who’s running for his mom Clavel’s House seat, is challenged by an Edelito Cañete Martinez.
In Mandaue City, Jonas Cortes faces one Edgar del Castillo Cortes for mayor. Jonkie Ouano, after persuading his aunt Joy to junk her dreams to become Mandaue mayor, still has to contend with a Lolita G. Ouano.
Cheap device
Fielding an enemy’s namesake is a cheap device to confuse voters and muddle counting of votes.
In a canvassing system still far below world class, similarity of names results in miscounted votes or spoiled ballots, crucial in a tight race.
The sun shines for everyone, brothers Eddie and Dodong Gullas tell us. Yet, when one with near zero chance of winning runs, people suspect stupidity, profiteering, or vileness.
Fools we can suffer but when namesakes come from the rival’s dirty tricks arsenal, we curse or moan.
Comelec watches out for nuisance filers, which should be as easy as spotting flies. After the Cayetano case though, one can see that taking the spoilers out can be tough for the poll body.
A certain Joyce Osmeña has no namesake in the governor’s race, yet she sports badges of a nuisance filer. Does it worry anyone that if Comelec deletes Joyce, there’ll be no Osmeña left standing against Governor Gwen?
