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Comelec weeds out 50 senatorial aspirants, approves five bids


The Commission on Election disqualified 50 senatorial hopefuls from running in the 2013 elections including Daniel Magtira, who claimed to be Kris Aquino’s husband, and former jukebox king Victor Wood.   However, the Comelec approved the candidacy of five other namely Greco Antonious Beda Belgica , Baldomero Falcone and Christian Señeres (Democratic Party of the Philippines); Samson Alcantara (Social Justice Society); and, businessman Richard Penson (Independent).   This brings the number of vetted senatorial aspirants to 32.   In an eight-page resolution, the Comelec said  the “nuisance” candidates failed to “show genuine interest or seriousness to run for the position of senator… by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for senator.”   Other candidacies were dismissed, as they were “not nominated by a political party and have not shown or proven their capacity to independently wage a national campaign.”   The decision was promulgated on October 30.   Of  the 84 hopeful senatorial candidates, 15 aspirants were disqualified as they were absent in the hearings set by Comelec aimed to prove the legitimacy of their certificates of candidacy.   Three others failed to make it to the senatorial list as they were below the 35-year-old minimum age requirement imposed by the 1987 Constitution. They were Remelyn Ajel, 32, Francis Leo Marcos, 33, and Johnny Chris Sy, 32.   Former singer Victor Wood and four other members of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan were disqualified after their party’s commissioner, Jaime Opinion, withdrew their certificates of nomination and acceptance.   Vicente Millora, also a senatorial hopeful under KBL, also failed to make it.   Wood, Millora, Alma Abella, Melchor Chavez, Norma Nueva, and Wenceslao Pancho, Jr. were also not considered by Comelec to run as independent candidates.   “Unfortunately, we are not convinced of their capacity to independently and individually wage a national campaign without the support of KBL,” Comelec said.   Two other members of KBL were likewise disqualified after they withdrew their certificate of candidacy.   The Comelec-vetted senatorial candidates include:   Liberal Party-Nacionalista coalition   1.     Juan Edgardo Angara (Laban)   2.     Paolo Benigno Aquino IV (Liberal Party)   3.     Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal (Liberal Party)   4.     Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (Liberal Party)   5.     Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista Party)   6.     Antonio Trillanes IV (Nacionalista Party)   7.     Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party)   8.     Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan)   9.     Sen. Aquilino Martin Pimentel III (PDP-Laban)   United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)   1.     Maria Lourdes Binay   2.     Margarita Cojuangco   3.     Joseph Victor Ejercito   4.     Richard Gordon   5.     Gregorio Honasan   6.     Ernesto Maceda   7.     Maria Milagros Esperanza Magsaysay   8.     Juan Miguel Zubiri   9.     Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (Nationalist People’s Coalition)   The common candidates of LP and UNA are Loren Legarda (NPC) and independent candidate Francis Joseph Escudero and Maria Grace Poe-Llamanzares.   Other senatorial candidates the Comelec deemed fit are:   1.     John Carlos de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran)   2.     Marwil Llasos (Ang Kapatiran)   3.     Rizalito David (Ang Kapatiran)   4.     Teodoro Casiño (Makabayan)   5.     Edward Hagedorn (Independent)   6.     Ramon Montaño (Independent) — ELR, GMA News

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