SC upholds disqualification of Sabio, 4 other presidential bets

The Supreme Court (SC) has denied with finality the petition of former Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Camilo Sabio to reverse the Commission on Elections' decision not to include him in the list of candidates for president in the May 9 elections.

At a media briefing, SC spokesman Theodore Te said Tuesday the justices found no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the poll body when it canceled Sabio's certificate of candidacy for being a nuisance candidate.

The SC also affirmed the Comelec rulings that canceled the COCs of erstwhile presidential aspirants Gerald Arcega, Juanito Bombase, Bethsaida Lopez, and Eric Negapatan. The high tribunal also upheld the disqualification of erstwhile senatorial aspirant Emmanuel Lopez.

Their respective candidacies were declared nuisance by the Comelec on the basis of their lack of financial capability to run a national campaign.

Lastly, the high court upheld the poll body's decision not to allow the following groups to participate in the party-list race: Bisdak Hugpong sa mga Bisaya Alang sa Kauswagan ug Kaangayan Inc. (Bisdak); Isang Adbokasiya sa Alternatibong Panggagamot, Pagsasaka at Pangkabuhayan (ASAPPP); Integrated Land and Agri Workers Incorporated (Ilaw); Pilipinos Aspiring for Country's Yes-Man Advancement Organization (Pacyao) and Workers Advocating for Reform and Advancement of Yes-Man (Waray), Ating Aral Regional Sectoral Party, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Abante Bicol Oragon Philippines Inc., United Women Against Poverty, Amay Bisaya, and Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino.   —NB, GMA News