Comelec declares 100 presidentiables as nuisance

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared 100 of the 125 presidentiables who filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections as nuisance.

In a press conference, poll body chairman Andres Bautista said the First and Second Divisions of the Comelec granted 100 petitions filed by the law department which deemed the candidates as nuisance.

Bautista did not name the 25 presidential aspirants, as well as other aspirants for national posts who escaped the nuisance tag as the lists from the two divisions were still being consolidated at the time.

Nine of the 13 petitions against vice presidential aspirants were granted.

Bautista added that 101 out of 129 petitions for senatorial aspirants have been promulgated.

Out of the 101 petitions promulgated, 96 have been granted, he added.

Meanwhile, the petition to declare senatorial aspirant Melchor Chavez as a nuisance bet will be elevated to the Comelec en banc.

"Ang problema kay Mr. Melchor Chavez, kasi isang commissioner ang nag-inhibit, isang commissioner ang nag-grant, at isa ay denied, so patas. Iaakyat siya sa en banc," Bautista said.

The poll body chief said those whose candidacies were deemed nuisance may still appeal before the en banc.

Meanwhile, Bautista urged the poll body's commissioners to speed up the process by immediately handing out decisions on the petitions, citing that the deadline for the final list of candidates is due next week or on December 15.

"'Yun ang aking pakiusap sa aking mga kapwa members -- na bilisan 'yung pag-decide kasi malapit na 'yung deadline para sa pag-finalize ng list of candidates," he said. —ALG, GMA News