MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday thumbed down former Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s suggestion to just put the name of Subair Guinthum Mustapha as No. 67 in the ballot as senatorial candidate, saying the list of candidates must be in alphabetical order. 

The inclusion of Mustapha’s name in the ballot came after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on his disqualification, which means the ballot numbers of some senatorial candidates, including Pangilinan, would change.

Comelec to reprint another 6 million ballots for 2025 elections, initial ones now 'wastage' 

Pangilinan’s suggestion sought to “spare other senatorial candidates from incurring additional expenses,” based on his statement. 

But the poll body said the alphabetical arrangement of names “is the most equitable and most objective order/sequence of candidates.” 

This also ensures that no candidate would intentionally be “given premium and preference.” 

“To put his name last on the list would go against fairplay and equality of treatment,” said Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco. 

The additional names, Laudiangco said, would also require the reprinting of ballots due to the change in the automated elections system and the consolidation and canvassing system, including the online voting and counting system. 

“In other words, a change or amendment in these systems necessitates a corresponding regeneration of new ballot faces and reserialization of ballots, and the corresponding reprinting of Ballots,” he said. 

Comelec Chairman George Garcia also cautioned Pangilinan on his suggestion, saying this might be a cause of a new TRO.

SC issues more TROs vs. Comelec to allow more candidates to run in May polls 

“Baka po… ma-accuse tayo ng violation ng equal protection clause ng Constitution. Lumalabas po na yung TRO na na-issue ng SC ay hindi lamang isama ang pangalan nya sa listahan ng mga kandidato yung hindi isama sya sa tamang numero base sa alphabetical arrangement,” Garcia told reporters in a message. 

“Nauunawaan po natin ang kanilang nararamdaman sa pangyayari na ito bilang mga naapektuhan,” he said. 

The SC on Tuesday prohibited the Comelec’s disqualification of five candidates, which includes Mustapha, a Senate bet.   

This meant that the Comelec had to discard some 6 million ballots printed in the last two weeks, which did not contain Mustapha’s name. 

Mustapha was previously declared as a nuisance candidate for senator.

RELATED VIDEO: