MANILA — Staying true to its commitment of freeing the coming 2025 national and local elections from mockery and disrepute, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last week declared as nuisance the congressional candidacy of a local quack doctor from Cabuyao, Laguna.

The poll body’s Second Division made the decision after it determined that the supposed candidate identified as Dante Aguilar Hernandez, merely filed his candidacy to cause confusion among voters by coming up with a nickname “Romeo”, which sounds similar with the name of petitioner and incumbent Gov. Ramil L. Hernandez.

The resolution read: On 26 November 2024, the Commission (Second Division) promulgated a Resolution granting the instant petition and declaring respondent Dante “Romeo” Aguilar Hernandez as a nuisance candidate.

It continued: “In relation thereto, the Commission (Second Division) hereby CLARIFIES that the Certificate of Candidacy filed by Respondent Dante “Romeo” Aguilar Hernandez for the position of Member, House of Representatives for the 2nd District of the Province of Laguna in the May 2025 National and Local Elections is DENIED DUE COURSE is CANCELLED.

The resolution was signed by Comelec 2nd Division Presiding Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo, and Commissioners Rey Bulay and Nelson Celis.

It was gathered that the respondent on October 8 this year filed his certificate of candidacy for the position of member, House of Representatives, for the Second (2nd) District of the province of Laguna in the 2025 national and local elections.

Gov. Hernandez, who is running for the same position in next year’s elections, however, was prompted to file a petition before the Comelec to declare the respondent as nuisance.

This, after he learned that Dante Hernandez has no bona fide intention to run for the office, but merely filed his candidacy just to confuse the voters and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.

He contended that based on the sworn statements of witnesses, “it was clear that the respondent is attempting to run for office under a different name, “Romeo Hernandez,” which is unfamiliar to his community.”

“This deliberate name change appears to be a strategic move to deceive voters and is likely an attempt to confuse the electorate, thus qualifying respondent as a nuisance candidate under Section 69 (of the Omnibus Election Code).”

The poll body received the sworn affidavits of three witnesses – Christopher Lozada Barrientos, Edmon Misa Arcita, and Hjan KZ Macapacial Baniaga, who were all residents of Brgy. Bigaa, Cabuyao City, Laguna.

The witnesses attested that they all personally knew respondent Dante, since they were all natives of the same barangay and that they never knew nor heard Dante calling himself Romeo, “until he filed his candidacy for congressman” last October 8.”

Barrientos, who is one of the witnesses stated that the respondent is widely recognized in their barangay as “Dante,” and he has never heard anyone refer to him as “Romeo”, and has been known solely by the name Dante since childhood.”

In fact, he previously served as a barangay tanod (community watchman) in Brgy. Bigaa, and he is currently known in the community as a “manghihilot” (traditional healer).

All the witnesses also recalled that respondent even ran and lost in the 2018 barangay elections for the position of Barangay Kagawad (councilor) in Brgy. Bigaa using his real name, “Dante Aguilar Hernandez”.

After careful deliberations, the Comelec’s 2nd Division granted the petition of Gov. Hernandez declaring the respondent as nuisance candidate.

In its ruling, the Comelec said Sec. 69 of the Omnibus Election Code [“OEC”] on nuisance candidates states that the Commission may, motu proprio or upon a verified petition of an interested party, refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy.

Among the considerations for declaring a candidate as nuisance are if it is shown that said certificate has been filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute; or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates.

Also, by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.

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