Comelec Set To Load The Final List Of Candidates For The May Polls At The Election Management System On Tuesday

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to load the final list of candidates for the May 9 elections at the Election Management System (EMS) on Tuesday.

“We already want to load the list on Tuesday. The sooner you start the process, and it’s running, you can just look at ways to even shorten the time,” said Commissioner Christian Robert Lim in a press briefing.

The presidential aspirants that are likely to be loaded in the EMS are Manuel “Mar” Roxas of the Liberal Party (LP); Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban);Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA); Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People’s Reform Party (PRP); Senator Grace Poe (Independent); and OFW Family Club Party-list Rep. Roy Señeres.

However, Señeres died due to cardiac arrest on Monday morning.

A total of six vice presidential aspirants are also to be loaded in the EMS, namely: Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan of UNA; Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of the LP; independent-running Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Antonio Trillanes IV.

The 50 names running for senatorial seats are likely to be included in the list of candidates to be printed in the ballots.

There will also be 115 party-list groups that have been allowed by the Comelec to run in the forthcoming elections.

They are:

1. AGRI (AGRI-AGRA NA REPORMA PARA SA MAGSASAKA NG PILIPINAS MOVEMENT)

2. ASEAN, INC. (ACADEMICIANS, STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS ALLIANCE, INC.)

3. METRO (MOVEMENT FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND RIGHTEOUS OPPORTUNITIES)

4. TRICAP (TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES)

5. ABANG LINGKOD (ABANG LINGKOD, INC.)

6. DIWA (DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT WORKERS ASSOCIATION, INC.)

7. AKIN (AKBAY KALUSUGAN, INC.)

8. AGAP (AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ALLIANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES)

9. SBP (SERBISYO SA BAYAN PARTY)

10. ADDA (ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, INC.)

11. AWAT MINDANAO (ANTI-WAR/ANTI-TERROR MINDANAO PEACE MOVEMENT)

12. ANAKALUSUGAN (ALAGAAN NATIN ATING KALUSUGAN)

13. CLASE (CENTRAL LUZON ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALIZED EDUCATION)

14. AKBAYAN (AKBAYAN CITIZENS’ ACTION PARTY)

15. ALL-FISH (ALLIANCE OF PHILIPPINE FISHING FEDERATIONS, INC.)

16. AKO BICOL (AKO BICOL POLITICAL PARTY)

17. SINAG (SINAG TUNGO SA KAUNLARAN)

18. 1-ABILIDAD (1-ABILIDAD)

19. GLOBAL (GLOBAL WORKERS AND FAMILY FEDERATION, INC.)

20. 1-ANG EDUKASYON (UNA ANG EDUKASYON)

21. COOP-NATCCO (COOPERATIVE NATCCO NETWORK PARTY)

22. ALAY BUHAY (ALAY BUHAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC.)

23. ACP (ANAK CENTRAL PARTY)

24. GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD (GUARDIANS REPUBLICAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.)

25. 1PACMAN (ONE PATRIOTIC COALITION OF MARGINALIZED NATIONALS)

26. MELCHORA (MOVEMENT OF WOMEN FOR CHANGE AND REFORM)

27. 1-AHAPO (ONE ADVOCACY FOR HEALTH PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITY)

28. TINGOG SINIRANGAN (TINGOG SINIRANGAN (FORMERLY TINGOG LEYTENHON))

29. PBB (PARTIDO NG BAYAN ANG BIDA)

30. KABAYAN (KABALIKAT NG MAMAMAYAN)

31. ACT TEACHERS (ACT TEACHERS PARTY-LIST)

32. ANG KABUHAYAN (ANG KABUHAYAN)

33. KMM (KAISAHAN NG MGA MALILIIT NA MAGSASAKA)

34. YACAP (YOU AGAINST CORRUPTION AND POVERTY)

35. TAMA (TANGGOL MARALITA)

36. GABRIELA (GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY)

37. SANLAKAS (SANLAKAS)

38. ABAKADA (ABAKADA-GURO)

39. ABS (ARTS BUSINESS AND SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS)

40. LPGMA (LPG MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.)

41. UNIDO (UNION OF NATIONALIST DEMOCRATIC FILIPINO ORGANIZATION)

42. KM NGAYON NA (KILOS MAMAMAYAN NGAYON NA)

43. ANGKLA (ANGKLA: ANG PARTIDO NG MGA PILIPINONG MARINO, INC.)

44. ALONA (ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS, NETWORKS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES)

45. TGP (TALINO AT GALING PINOY)

46. MAGDALO (MAGDALO PARA SA PILIPINO)

47. OFW FAMILY (OFW FAMILY CLUB, INC.)

48. ALE (ASSOCIATION OF LABORERS AND EMPLOYEES)

49. ATING GURO (ATING GURO)

50. AVE (ALLIANCE OF VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS)

51. A TEACHER (ADVOCACY FOR TEACHER EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION COOPERATION AND HARMONY TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

52. ANAKPAWIS (ANAKPAWIS)

53. RAM (REBOLUSYONARYONG ALYANSANG MAKABANSA)

54. CWS (CONSTRUCTION WORKERS’ SOLIDARITY)

55. KABATAAN (KABATAAN PARTY-LIST)

56. PISTON (PISTON LAND TRANSPORT COALITION, INC.)

57. TUCP (TRADE UNION CONGRESS PARTY)

58. KALINGA (KALINGA-ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND NATION-BUILDING THROUGH EASING POVERTY, INC.)

59. AASENSO (ATING AGAPAY SENTRONG SAMAHAN NG MGA OBRERO, INC.)

60. AAMBIS-OWA (ANG ASOSASYON SANG MANGUNGUMA NGA BISAYA-OWA MANGUNGUMA, INC.)

61. AAB (AKO AN BISAYA)

62. ABONO (ABONO PARTY-LIST)

63. AMIN (ANAK MINDANAO PARTY-LIST)

64. AGHAM (ALYANSA NG MGA GRUPONG HALIGI NG AGHAM AT TEKNOLOHIYA PARA SA MAMAMAYAN, INC.)

65. ANUPA (ALLIANCE FOR NATIONAL URBAN POOR ASSEMBLY, INC.)

66. DISABLED/PWD (DISABLED/PILIPINOS WITH DISABILITIES)

67. TINDERONG PINOY (TINDERONG PINOY PARTY)

68. CONSLA (CONFEDERATION OF NON-STOCK SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS, INC.)

69. SENIOR CITIZENS (COALITION OF ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES)

70. MIGRANTE (MIGRANTE SECTORAL PARTY OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AND THEIR FAMILIES)

71. AMOR SEAMAN (ASSOCIATION OF MARINE OFFICER AND RATINGS, INC.)

72. CIBAC (CITIZENS’ BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION)

73. NACTODAP (NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF TRICYCLE OPERATORS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES)

74. A TAMBAY (ANG TAO MUNA AT BAYAN)

75. BANAT (BARANGAY NATIN)

76. UMALAB KA (UGNAYAN NG MARALITA LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN)

77. AI (ABYAN ILONGGO)

78. AN WARAY (AN WARAY)

79. KUSUG TAUSUG (KUSUG TAUSUG)

80. ANG NARS (ANG NARS, INC.)

81. BAYAN MUNA (BAYAN MUNA)

82. MARINO (MARINO SAMAHAN NG MGA SEAMAN, INC.)

83. ANG KASANGGA (KASANGGA SA KAUNLARAN, INC.)

84. AMA (AAGAPAY SA MATATANDA)

85. KAP/KAKASA-KA (KAAGAPAY NG NAGKAKAISANG PILIPINONG MAGSASAKA/KABUHAYAN AT KABAHAYAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA)

86. FICTAP (FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CABLE TV AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES)

87. SAMAKO (SANDIGAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA KONSTRUKSIYON)

88. ACTS-OFW (ACTS OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS)

89. PBA (PUWERSA NG BAYANING ATLETA)

90. MANILA TEACHERS (MANILA TEACHERS’ SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, INC.)

91. ANAC-IP (ANG NATIONAL COALITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACTION NA)

92. ABANTE RETIREES (ABANTE RETIREES PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION)

93. BUTIL (BUTIL FARMERS PARTY)

94. KAMAIS (KAMAIS PILIPINAS (KAPATIRANG MAGMAMAIS NG PILIPINAS, INC.)

95. ATING KOOP (ADHIKAING TINATAGUYOD NG KOOPERATIBA)

96. ACT-CIS (ANTI-CRIME AND TERRORISM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT, INC.)

97. 1-CARE (1ST CONSUMERS ALLIANCE FOR RURAL ENERGY, INC.)

98. MATA (ANG MATA’Y ALAGAAN)

99. DUMPER PTDA (DUMPER PHILIPPINES TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION, INC.)

100. BH (BAGONG HENERASYON)

101. PM (PARTIDO MANGGAGAWA)

102. 1-SAGIP (SOCIAL AMELIORATION & GENUINE INTERVENTION ON POVERTY)

103. 1-PABAHAY (ISANG PANGARAP NA BAHAY SA BAGONG BUHAY NG MARALITANG KABABAYAN, INC.)

104. CANCER (CANCER ALLEVIATION NETWORK ON CARE, EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION, INC.)

105. MTM PHILS (MAMAMAYAN TUNGO SA MAUNLAD NA PILIPINAS)

106. 1-AALALAY (ISANG ALYANSANG AALALAY SA PINOY SKILLED WORKERS)

107. AANGAT TAYO (AANGAT TAYO)

108. ABAMIN (ABANTE MINDANAO, INC.)

109. ANG PROLIFE (ANG PROLIFE)

110. BUHAY (BUHAY HAYAAN YUMABONG)

111. APPEND (APPEND, INC.)

112. KGB (KATIPUNAN NG MGA GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, INC.)

113. AGBIAG! (AGBIAG! TIMPUYOG ILOCANO, INC.)

114. AWAKE (AWARENESS OF KEEPERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC.)

115. AMEPA OFW (AMEPA OFW ACCESS CENTER, INC.).

Meanwhile, the Comelec is giving the camp of Señeres until Tuesday to submit a waiver of the right of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka Workers and Peasants Party (WPPPMM) to field a substitute candidate.

Lim noted that they will wait on Feb. 9 to decide if they can remove or not the name of the former presidential aspirant from the official list of candidates to be printed in the official ballots.

“If they (political party) submit a waiver (of sorts), we can already remove his name from the list. If there is none, we have no choice but to still include his name,” the poll body official said.

On Monday, Señeres passed away due to cardiac arrest caused by complications from diabetes.

His death happened days after the announcement of his withdrawal from the presidential race in May, due to health reasons. But, the Statement of Cancellation/Withdrawal has not been filed before the Comelec.

Under the law, the substitute for a candidate who died or is disqualified by final judgment, may file a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) up to mid-day of Election Day provided that the substitute and the substituted have the same surnames.

On the other hand, Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said that the Señeres camp should give immediate answer since it will remove possible confusions in the ballots to be printed.

“We also want to honor the memory of the late congressman. I don’t know what his preference would be but it will be a little bit odd in case somebody who has passed away and his name continues to be on the ballot,” said Bautista.

Based on prevailing rules, it will be considered as invalid votes for those candidates that have died, withdrawn, or have been disqualified with finality but their names remained in the ballots.

However, if they have substitute candidates, their names will still remain but the votes for them will be credited to their replacements. (PNA) SCS/FGP/EDS