Comelec confirms the disqualification of opponents
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirmed yesterday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez is running unopposed as representative of the first district of Leyte, leaving him without a clear opponent in the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections.
COMELEC spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco attributed the situation to a ruling from the court, which disqualified the main opponent of Romualdez as a non-registered voter of Leyte's first district, resulting in the cancellation of the candidate's certificate of candidacy (COC) and subsequent removal from the ballot.
The disqualified aspirant, who was not named by Laudiangco, did not file a motion for reconsideration at the Supreme Court, leading COMELEC to decide without a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to remove the aspirant's name from the ballot.
A controversy arose when COMELEC released the names of the aspirants in November 2024, which included aside from Romualdez, other three names vying for the said congressional post — Nene Bacale, Danilo Chua, and Minerva Gaut.
However, a week ago, COMELEC released the final list of the aspirants for the various positions, surprising many that only Romualdez' name appeared and the other names were nowhere to be seen.
It was just when COMELEC started to print the actual ballots to be used in the 2025 midterm elections, which heightened concerns about the election's integrity.
According to COMELEC's head for the national task force for the May 12 national and local elections, Atty. Jose Nick Mendros, Danilo Chua withdrew his candidacy after filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the provincial election supervisor of Leyte.
Mendez added that Minerva Gaut was declared a nuisance candidate by the COMELEC En Banc and Nene Bacale was disqualified as a non-registered voter of any area within the first district of Leyte.
Despite facing no opposition, candidates like Romualdez do not get to be declared as winners automatically, as they need to receive at least one vote to be declared the winner in the post they are seeking, as per election laws.
The COMELEC has clarified that it has followed the proper procedure in resolving the controversy and is ready to face any legal challenge that may arise from the decision.
The disqualification of the main opponents of Romualdez has sparked a heated debate on social media and in local communities, with many speculating about the motivations behind the COMELEC decision.
As election day draws near, supporters and opponents alike are keeping a close eye on the situation, awaiting further developments that may impact the outcome of the mid-term elections.
The move by COMELEC has sparked renewed calls for transparency in the election process and stricter measures to prevent irregularities.
Romualdez, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, has yet to comment on the situation, but his supporters remain confident that he will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.
As the Philippines gears up for the May 12 mid-term elections, this latest development is just one of the many controversies that have marred the run-up to the country's national polls.
The COMELEC is facing mounting pressure to maintain the integrity of the election process, as critics call for greater transparency and accountability in handling electoral disputes.
In the coming days, Romualdez is expected to face a relatively easy ride to the congressional seat, as he prepares for what promises to be a decisive win in the mid-term elections.
However, questions over the election process and COMELEC's handling of opposition aspirants are likely to linger long after election day is over.
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