A FORMER Ilocos Sur governor’s name would stay on the ballots for the 2025 national and local elections in May despite his late withdrawal, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.
Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” C. Singson said he would withdraw from the May polls on Sunday due to health reasons, but Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said his name would remain on the ballots as printing has already commenced.
“If the withdrawal proceeds, we can no longer remove their name from the ballot,” he told reporters in Filipino via Viber chat. “And if they receive any votes, all those votes will be declared stray.”
Mr. Singson is yet to formally withdraw from the race.
The Comelec chief added Mr. Singson must personally file his withdrawal papers, not his lawyers.
The Miss Universe frontman pledged to modernize the country’s public transport through the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, criticizing its “flawed” implementation. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
