Comelec: Roque's name won't be on May 2019 ballot

Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr’s name will be removed from the May 2019 ballot after he withdrew his senatorial candidacy, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez issued the statement after announcing that Roque formalized his withdrawal in the May 2019 elections by submitting a Statement of Withdrawal before the Comelec office in Manila where he also filed his certificate of candidacy back in October 2018.

Roque cited health reasons for his withdrawal.

“Once the formal and procedural requirements of the withdrawal have been fulfilled, the name of former candidate will be removed from the ballot,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez earlier said that the Comelec will start printing the ballots for the May 2019 polls on February 2, Saturday.

Under Comelec rules, any candidate who decides to withdraw his or her candidacy “may at any time before election day file a statement of withdrawal under oath in five legible copies with the office where the certificate of candidacy was filed.”

The regional election director, provincial election supervisor or the election officer concerned shall, upon receipt of the withdrawal, will then retain a file copy and immediately forward to the Commission through the Law Department all the other copies.

On the same date, he or she should notify the Law Department by the fastest means of communication of the: a) full name of the candidate withdrawing; b) elective office concerned; c) political party of the candidate, if any; and d) substitution made, if any.

The field office concerned will then be notified of any withdrawal of candidacy and/or substitution filed with the Commission.

Roque was a former human rights lawyer, international law professor, and a representative of the Kabayan party-list before he was appointed as Presidential spokesperson in October 2017.

Before the filing of certificate of candidacy, President Rodrigo Duterte said that Roque will not win in the May polls because the soldiers do not like him. — MDM, GMA News