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Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Poll body disqualifies Cayetano namesake
MANILA -- Saying his P10,000 monthly income was not enough to fund his senatorial bid, the Commission on Elections disqualified Joselito Pepito "Peter" Cayetano from running for a Senate seat this May 14.
Pepito's income was the main consideration of the Comelec when it barred him from the senatorial race, which also has Taguig-Pateros Representative Allan Peter Cayetano as a candidate.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Allan Peter is running under the opposition ticket.
Election Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said the Comelec First Division was "unanimous" in declaring Pepito nuisance candidate.
Commissioner Romeo Brawner, who penned the decision, explained that they put weight on the fact that Pepito is earning only P10,000 a month as a checker in a stevedoring company in Davao. With only this much income, Brawner said Pepito has no capability to wage a nationwide campaign.
"Pepito is virtually unknown (in the country) yet he is running for a lofty position," Brawner added.
He said what gave Pepito a clout was his nomination from KBL.
Allan Peter filed the disqualification case against Pepito, accusing him of being a nuisance bet out to ruin the congressman's plans of landing a seat in the Senate.
Borra said Pepito's name would still be included in the official list of senatorial candidates and would be printed in the election returns since he could still appeal his case with the en banc and before the Supreme Court (SC).
He explained that since there was no final ruling yet on Pepito's case, they would consider votes cast for him as stray votes. Once there is a final ruling disqualifying him, Pepito's votes would be added to those of Congressman Cayetano.
"So even if his (Pepito) name is there (on the election returns), the board of election inspectors may not credit votes in his name or it could be considered as stray votes," Borra said.
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said the election body would consolidate the two disqualification cases lodged against Allan Peter by former Pateros mayor Jose Capco and a certain Percival Mabasa. The two questioned the congressman's nationality. (MSN/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (March 28, 2007 issue)
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