MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections has uploaded eight names in its certified list of presidential candidates.
As earlier announced by the Comelec, the name of Senator Grace Poe remained on the list posted on the poll body’s website despite twin rulings by the en banc disqualifying her from the presidential elections.
Poe has since questioned the cancellation of her certificate of candidacy for president before the Supreme Court. Her petition is now the subject of oral arguments before the high tribunal.
On the other hand, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also made the list despite disqualification cases pending before the Comelec.
There are two new names on the list apart from those that were earlier reported. These are Mel Mendoza of the PMP and Dante Valencia, an independent.
Also in the list were Vice President Jejomar Binay of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the People’s Reform Party, Mar Roxas of the ruling Liberal Party, and OFW party-list Representative Roy Señeres.
The Comelec also uploaded the six names in its list of vice presidential candidates.
They are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who’s listed as an independent; Senator Francis Escudero, also an independent; Senator Gregorio Honasan of UNA; Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., independent; Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, LP; and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, independent.
Cayetano, Marcos and Trillanes are all members of the Nacionalista Party but are all running as independents after the NP opted not to endorse any of them.
Earlier, Comelec chair Andres Bautista said the list was likely final.
Meanwhile, 52 names are currently in the list for senator, and 120 groups are in the list for party-list.
The poll body said the lists are initial “and subject to editing.” Requests for corrections will eventually be forwarded to the Comelec law department.
The lists are available at the Comelec website, www.comelec.gov.ph.
List for local positions are also available. (MNS)