Comelec suspends proclamation of 20 candidates over election violations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the proclamation of 19 local candidates and one party-list group pending resolution of charges related to issues such as vote-buying, abuse of state resources, and gender-based harassment.

Among those affected are Marikina Mayor Marcelino 'Marcy' Teodoro, who is seeking a congressional seat, and Pasig candidate Christian De Guzman Sia, among others.

Specific candidates include Matt Florido from Quezon's 1st District, Philip Fortuno from Camarines Sur's 5th District, and the party-list group PBBM.

With the Comelec's suspension order, even candidates who won cannot be proclaimed yet. For instance, Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina has garnered the highest votes in the completed returns with 75,062 votes versus his rival Senator Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III’s 29,091.

Teodoro asked the poll body on Tuesday to respect the 'people's collective will' and proclaim him as the winner of the congressional race.