Pepito Cayetano, Ted Aquino disqualified

(Updated 10:02 p.m.) The Commission on Elections, in an en banc decision, disqualified and removed from the list of senatorial candidates Joselito Pepito "Peter" Cayetano of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and Theodore "Ted" Aquino (independent), GMA's 24-Oras reported Friday. In separate resolutions both issued May 11, the poll body affirmed the earlier decisions released by the First and Second Divisions and junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Cayetano and Aquino, respectively. On March 27, the Comelec First Division declared Pepito a nuisance candidate on the grounds that he causes confusion among the voters as he adopted a similar nickname as that of candidate Alan Peter Cayetano of the Genuine Opposition. It said Pepito also has no capability to wage a national electoral campaign as he is only relying on the KBL for this. Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner earlier said "there are some questions as to whether the KBL actually supports Joselito." "The respondent, by adopting the nickname "Peter", by which is not actually known, and considering that is true family name and that of petitioner is "Cayetano", there is a clear attempt on his part to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among voters," the en banc resolution read. The poll body further said the new set of evidence Pepito seeks to present "which appears to be about his alleged capacity to conduct a nationwide campaign, which he had not shown during the presentation of is evidence in chief, will not obliterate the foregoing basis of said assailed resolution." On the other hand, the Comelec en banc found no merit in the motion for reconsideration filed by Aquino contesting the resolution issued by Second Division on March 22. The body said Aquino filed the motion beyond the five-day period prescribed by law. Comelec also said Aquino, a dual citizen, is disqualified to run for Senate because he refused to renounce his American citizenship notwithstanding the fact that he has validly re-acquired his Filipino citizenship. It said Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Act requires that those who re-acquired Filipino citizenship, if interested in running for public office, renounce any and all foreign citizenship. "R.A. 9225 strengtened and reinforced the constitutional provision (Section 3, Article VI). This would ensure that no person owing allegiance to a foreign country shall govern our people or any portion of the territory of the Philippines. No one can serve two masters," the en banc decision read. - GMANews.TV