MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has rejected the motions for reconsideration (MRs) filed by 18 senatorial aspirants who had been previously declared nuisance candidates for the 2025 May elections.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia revealed the decision on Friday, announcing that all 18 appeals had been denied.
“These are the motions for reconsideration from those who were declared as nuisance candidates. All of their motions have been denied,” Garcia told reporters.
A total of 91 senatorial candidates filed MRs after the poll body ruled that 117 individuals lacked a genuine intention to run for public office.
Garcia added that the Comelec plans to finalize decisions on national nuisance cases by the end of the day, while local cases are still being resolved. “We expect to finalize the list by December 13, including resolutions at the en banc level,” he said.
The list of rejected MRs includes the following candidates:
- Francis Leo Antonio Marcos
- Felipe Fernandez Montealto Jr.
- Orlando Caranto de Guzman
- Mauel Lim Andrada
- Sonny Miranda Pimentel
- Elpidio Rosero Rosales Jr.
- Jaime Balmas
- Pedro Gonzales Ordiales
- John Rafael Campang
- Robeito Sembrano
- Romulo Tindoc San Ramon
- Fernando Fabian Diaz
- Luther Gascon Meniano
- Romeo Castro Macaraeg
- Subair Guinthum Mustapha
- Monqiue Solis Kokkinaras
- Berteni Cataluna Causing
- Alexander Encarnacion
The period for filing certificates of candidacy (COCs) took place from October 1 to October 8, with 183 senatorial candidates and 156 party-list groups submitting their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs).
Earlier, the Comelec released an initial list of senatorial aspirants whose names may be included on the official ballot for next year’s elections.
However, the poll body clarified that this list was provisional, subject to the final decisions of the Comelec divisions or the en banc regarding the petitions to declare certain candidates as nuisance bets.
The Comelec’s move follows a ruling by the Supreme Court, which stated that factors like unpopularity or lack of political party affiliation are not grounds for declaring someone a nuisance candidate.
According to Comelec’s Rules of Procedure, a candidate can be declared a nuisance if their candidacy is seen as a mockery of the election process, causes confusion among voters, or involves other acts that undermine the integrity of the electoral system.
If found to be a nuisance, candidates can have their certificates of candidacy denied or canceled, preventing them from participating in the elections.