Comelec received 91 petitions to cancel COCs of aspirants for nat'l posts, says spox

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received 91 petitions for the cancellation of certificates of candidacy (COCs) of current aspirants for the national posts in Eleksyon 2022.

“Napakarami (There are many), more than these in all different positions, for national level pa lang ito 91 petitions for cancellation have been filed so far,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Asked for the full list of the 91 petitions filed for the cancellation of the COCs in the national post, Jimenez said, “I will clear it with the clerk of the commission if it’s shareable, I’ll share it.”

The Comelec earlier said it was looking to resolve all petitions for cancellation of certificates of candidacy (COC) before the scheduled release of the official list of candidates for the May 2022 polls.

These include the petition for cancellation of COC of presidential aspirant former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The commission bared three withdrawals so far for the top posts – Manuel De Castro, senator under Aksyon; Nur-Ana Sahidulla, senator under Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino; and Raquel Castillo, vice president under Partido Lakas ng Masa.

'Nuisance' candidates

At the separate Laging Handa briefing, Comelec Education and Information Department director Elaiza Sabile-David said the poll body may 205 aspirants for national posts as nuisance candidates.

"For the position of president, mayroon pong 82 na petitions na finile ang Comelec [there were 82 petitions filed by Comelec], 15 for vice president, and 108 for senator,"  David said.

The Comelec defines a nuisance candidate as one who, on the face of their certificates of candidacy, does not possess the constitutional and legal qualifications of the office to which they aspire to be elected, or one who files hiS/her COC to put the election process in mockery or disrepute

The final list of official candidates will be issued in December.

The 2022 general elections will be held on May 9. -NB, GMA News