MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to include Chito Bulatao Balintay’s name in the official ballot for Zambales Governor.

“The SC directed the Comelec to accept Balintay’s certificate of candidacy (COC) and include his name in the official ballot for the 2025 elections,” the High Court stated in its ruling, granting Balintay’s petition.

According to the SC, Balintay filed his COC on the last day of filing, 25 minutes before the deadline. However, it was deemed incomplete as it lacked a required fifth copy and documentary stamps.

He was advised to complete the missing documents, but by the time he returned, it was already three minutes past the 5:00 p.m. deadline.

The SC ruled that Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion by rejecting Balintay’s COC.

It further emphasized that “Comelec should reexamine whether its rules serve the interest of justice and fair play.”

“The SC found that Comelec’s strict application of its rules was unjustified, warranting the reversal of its decision.”

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senatorial aspirant Kiko Pangilinan is calling on the Commission on Elections to assign Subair Guinthum Mustapha the No. 67 or the last number of senatorial candidate on the ballot to spare candidates from incurring additional expenses.

The Supreme Court earlier granted the Temporary Restraining Order filed by Mustapha, which requires Commission on Election (Comelec) to include his name on the official ballot.

“Bakit hindi na lang ilagay si Mustapha sa huling numero bilang huling kandidatong Senador sa balota para hindi na kailangan baguhin ang opisyal na numbering at mga numero ng ibang kandidato na inanunsyo na noong nakaraang taon pa?”  Pangilinan suggested.

The former senator noted that many candidates have their posters and campaign materials with the assigned numbers printed and distributed across various parts of the country.

“Sana bigyan ng konsiderasyon ang mungkahi na ito,” said Pangilinan.

He made his statement as he will be moved from No. 50 to 51 if the Comelec decides to insert Mustapha’s name alphabetically.

However, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the the alphabetical arrangement of names in the ballots is “the most equitable and most objective order/sequence of candidates by which no particular person will be intentionally given premium and preference.”

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