POLITICS: MANILA- Comelec gives 76 senate bets the go-ahead

The Commission on Elections on Saturday released the 76 names of senatorial bets for the May 2019 midterm elections,  but this would still be reduced, pending the cases of 13 other senatorial aspirants.

Poll spokesperson James Jimenez said the 76  senatorial candidates included former Senator Sergio Osmeña III and reelectionist Senator Koko Pimentel against whom disqualification complaints appeared to have been dismissed by the election watchdog.

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The poll body has yet to categorically announce the dismissal of the cases but included Pimentel and Osmeña in a partial list of candidates.Their names were also absent from a separate roster of hopefuls who were allowed to appeal their cases before the Comelec.“The fact that they are there [on the partial list] means the decisions were in favor of them,”

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Jimenez told ABS-CBN News, beamed nationwide.Two disqualification cases were lodged against Pimentel, with the argument he had maximized the limit of serving two consecutive terms.Pimentel assumed the post in 2011 to occupy the seat of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who lost to him in an election protest.Osmeña’s perpetual disqualification case was, meanwhile, filed by the Comelec’s campaign finance office for his failure to submit his campaign expense reports for the 2010 and 2016 elections.

Jimenez said the 76 senatorial aspirants and 134 party-list organizations could be allowed to run in the midterm polls, but the number might still be reduced.

The senatorial bets are:Abejo, Vangie; Afuang, Abner; Aguilar, Freddie; Alba, Albert; Albani, Shariff; Alejano, Gary; Alfajora, Richard; Alunan, Raffy; Angara, Edgardo Sonny; Ansula, Ernesto; Aquino, Benigno Bam; Arcega, Gerald; Arellano, Ernesto; Arias, Marcelino; Arpa, Hussayin; Austria, Bernard;

Baldevarona, Balde; Binay, Nancy; Bong Revilla, Ramon Jr;

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Caceres, Jesus; Casiño, Toti; Cayetano, Pia; Chavez, Melchor; Chong, Glenn; Colmenares, Neri; David, Rizalito; De Alban, Angelo; De Guzman, Ka Leody; Dela Rosa, Bato; Diokno, Chel; Ejercito, Estrada Jv; Encarnacion, Alexander; Enrile, Juan Ponce; Escudero, Agnes; Estrada, Jinggoy; Francisco, Elmer; Gaddi, Charlie; Gadon, Larry; Generoso, Gen Pederalismo; Geroy, Geremy; Go, Bong Go; Guigayuma, Junbert; Gutoc, Samira; Hilbay, Pilo; Iliw Iliw, William; Jangao, Bfg Abraham; Javellana, Rj; Javelona, Josefa; Lapid, Lito;

Macalintal, Macaromy; Mallillin, Emily; Mangondato, Faisal; Mangudadatu, Dong; Manicad, Jiggy; Marcos, Imee; Marquez, Norman; Matula, Jose Sonny; Meniano, Luther; Merano, Rolando; Montaño, Allan; Nalliw, Joan Sheelah; Naval, Frank; Negapatan, Eric; Ong, Doc Willie; Osmeña, Serge;

Padilla, Dado; Pimentel, Koko; Poe, Grace; Roleda, Dan Kaibigan; Roque, Harry “Spox”; Roxas, Mar; Sahidulla, Lady Ann; Tañada, Lorenzo Erin Tapat; Tolentino, Francis; Valdes, Butch; Villar, Cynthia.

Jimenez noted they were still waiting for the final decision on the 13 senatorial aspirants so their names would no longer be included in the official ballots.The Comelec spokesman said that if their names were printed on the ballots and then they were disqualified, their votes would not be counted.

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READ: Comelec resets printing of party-lists, senatorial bets

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“Right now, we are waiting for the certificates of finality before we start loading their names,” Jimenez added.