The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has once again updated the tentative list of aspirants for the national elections for May 2022.
The poll body released the tentative list released yesterday, January 5, 2022, on its official website.
From 15 names for the presidential run last December 24, COMELEC now has 11 candidates for the presidency.
The list includes Ernie Abella an independent candidate, Gerald Arcega also as independent candidate, Leody De Guzman of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), “Isko” Moreno Domagoso of Aksyon Demokratiko (AKSYON), Norberto Gonzales of Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), Ping Lacson of Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma (PDR), Faisal Mangondato of Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi (KTPNAN), Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Dr. Jose Montemayor, Jr. of Democratic Party of the Philippines (DPP), Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao of ABAG Promdi (PROMDI), and Leni Robredo who is also running as independent.
Maria Aurora Marcos was declared a nuisance candidate by the COMELEC and was taken out of the updated list, leaving Bongbong Marcos as the only Marcos running for the presidency.
Candidates for vice president remains the same, as nine names are still on the list. These are Lito Atienza of ABAG Promdi (PROMDI), Walden Bello of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Rizalito David of Democratic Party of the Philippines (DPP), Sarah Duterte of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS), Manny SD Lopez of Workers and Peasants Party (WPP), Doc Willie Ong of Aksyon Demokratiko (AKSYON), Kiko Pangilinan of Liberal Party (LP), Carlos Serapio of Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi (KTPNAN), and Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
The list of senatorial aspirants has also been reduced from 70 to 64.
The COMELEC also stated on its post that “the Tentative List of Aspirants/Candidates for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections are based on the initial evaluation of the Certificates of the Nomination and Acceptance.“
It added, “Consequently, the contents of the list, particularly the names of the aspirants /candidates, political parties, as well as the name to appear on the ballot are subject to change as a result of any further evaluation and/or resolution of the Commission En Banc in relation thereto.“
The poll body is expected to release its finalized list of candidates this Friday, January 7. DZUP