Marcy Teodoro would still be included in ballots – Comelec
MANILA, Philippines — So far, the name of Marikina mayor Marcy Teodoro will remain in ballots for his bid for a House of Representatives seat despite the Commission on Elections (Comelec) division’s move to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC).
Previously, Comelec 1st Division head commissioner Socorro Inting granted the petition to cancel Teodoro’s COC for the city’s first district representative over what is deemed to be material misrepresentation regarding his address.
But only when there is a “final and executory” ruling from the Comelec could Teodoro’s name be removed in the ballots, according to poll body chairman George Erwin Garcia.
READ: Teodoro says petitions to cancel candidacy ‘political maneuvering’
After being delayed thrice over a three-week period due to Supreme Court (SC)’s temporary restraining orders (TRO) favoring senatorial candidates, the printing has since resumed on Monday, but only for the ballots for local and overseas absentee voters. The Comelec has yet to print ballots which include local candidates.
Garcia, when asked if Teodoro’s name would be included once the printing of ballots containing local candidates begin, said: “Not only him (Teodoro), but all candidates with pending motions, pending disqualifications, as long as there is no decision from the commission en banc, all of their names are still included in the list.”
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“As long as the Comelec has no final and executory decision, all of their names will remain,” Garcia added
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During a press conference at the National Printing Office (NPO) where the printing has been taking place. “And when there is no decision until the elections, all of their votes would be considered as valid votes.”
It can be recalled that the Comelec then issued a four-page Certificate of Finality, making the disqualification of former Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice “final and executory.”
Erice’s name was removed from the ballot before the printing, but the SC issued a TRO against Comelec’s preventing Erice from staging a House of Representatives comeback, compelling the poll body to retain his name on the ballots.