Revilla’s name, number on ballot based on court decision – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The placement of the surname and number of reelectionist Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla on the ballot is based on a court order, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday.

Revilla’s ballot placement is met with criticisms, with many netizens asking why he is 11th on the list of senatorial candidates and using “Bong Revilla” as his surname.

READ: Detained Bong Revilla joins Senate race

“May RTC (regional trial court) decision po ng 2009 granting his petition to change name. OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) did not oppose,” Garcia told reporters in a Viber message.

(There was an RTC decision in 2009 granting his petition to change name. OSG did not oppose.)

Article continues after this advertisement

Revilla’s certificate of candidacy on the Comelec website shows that his registered last name is “Bong Revilla” with “Ramon, Jr.” as his first name and “Bautista” as his middle name.

Article continues after this advertisement

In 2010, the Comelec’s 2nd division allowed Revilla to use “Bong Revilla” as his registered surname for the senatorial race after junking a disqualification case filed against him for misrepresentation by using the same surname.

READ: All pork barrel scam cases vs Revilla junked

Revilla, who was previously detained and acquitted over alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam that was exposed in 2013, ranked 11th in the 2019 senatorial race.