A total of 95 senatorial candidates may face disqualification from 2019 polls due to lack of “financial capability” to support their election campaign, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday, October 29.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they will give a chance to those who were initially considered as nuisance candidates if they are able to prove their financial capabilities to run next year. However, most of them would likely be disqualified.
Aside from the lack of financial capabilities, some of the candidates are facing disqualification cases petitioned by their fellow aspirants.
A disqualification case was filed against incumbent Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel whose term is being questioned by a petitioner.
If Comelec could not resolve Pimente’s case, the poll body will elevate it to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, candidates who intend to put the election process in mockery will also be disqualified.
Jimenez said that the commission can cancel the candidacy of those running to “cause confusion among voters” because their names are similar to the legitimate candidates.
High-profile senatorial aspirant Mar Roxas has petitioned to block the candidacy of a person who has the same surname, Jesus Roxas, a senatorial bet of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP).
The commission is currently in the process of screening all certificates of candidacy (COCs) of those who filed for a senatorial and party-list list.
The final list of candidates will be revealed to the public on December 15.
