Ex-charter group spokesman’s Senate run a ‘mockery’: Comelec petition

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections has moved to stop the senatorial bid of Conrado Generoso, former spokesman of Malacañang’s charter drafting group, saying he was putting next year’s elections in “mockery or disrepute.”

Generoso and his Katipunan’s Party senatorial slate were included in the poll body’s initial list of 95 “nuisance” candidates prepared by its law department.

He was the designated spokesman of the consultative committee that drafted President Rodrigo Duterte’s version of a federal constitution.

Generoso went on to defend the proposed constitution—derided often by critics suspicious of revising the present charter under Duterte—in media interviews and public forums.

But the Comelec petition described him a “virtual unknown to the entire country, except maybe in the locality where he resides.”

The petition, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News, took note of Generoso’s work as a “media consultant.”

“While such is a noble way to earn a living, it is most respectfully submitted that absent clear proof of the respondent’s financial capability,” the petition said, he “will not be able to sustain the financial rigors of waging a nationwide campaign.”

Generoso also “clearly demonstrated” that he had “no bona fide intention to run for any of the office,” it said.

MOCKERY

But he said the Comelec should instead go after those were making a “real mockery” of the electoral system, citing politicians accused of plunder.

“The candidacy of those accused of stealing money from us is not being questioned. But the candidacy of those from whom they stole money... why is our candidacy being questioned?” he told ANC’s Early Edition.

“Who is making a mockery? We are going to elect those who are accused or those who have been going in and out of jail?”
Generoso said, without naming names.

Three former senators accused of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam are running for the Senate next year.

But Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. have all denied the allegation.

Enrile and Estrada were granted temporary liberty while Revilla is still detained.