“Tuloy ang laban!” Liberal Party Senatorial Candidate Teacher Neric Acosta clarified that he is definitely pursuing his bid for a seat in the Senate. Neric Acosta is NOT the same Acosta that the Commission on Elections disqualified. It was Vetellano Acosta of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), running as President, whom COMELEC declared as a nuisance candidate.
State of Confusion
“When I was in University of Luzon in Pangasinan, I was surprised to receive hundreds of calls from my supporters asking me why I was disqualified. Even my Facebook and Twitter accounts were filled with countless messages. I had to explain to them that I am still running and it was Vetellano Acosta of KBL that was considered unfit to run for office. I reassured them that I strongly believe in our youth. Dapat silang makapasok, makapag-aral at makapagtapos. Ipaglalaban ko ‘yan hanggang sa Senado,” says Neric Acosta.
COMELEC a big disappointment
“Paano natin mapagkakatiwalaan ang COMELEC sa darating na eleksiyon kung ang isang simpleng bagay na pag disqualify sa isang tao na sa simula pa lang ay mapaglinlang. Napakatagal nila bago inaksyunan ang isang napakasimpleng bagay katulad ng pag-disqualify ng isang taong sa simula pa lamang, was making a mockery out of the electoral process?” Teacher Neric Acosta continues that at the very least, the COMELEC should hold Vetellano Acosta liable for putting in false information in his certificate of candidacy.
Una sa Balota
“I had hoped that Vetellano Acosta’s name would be stricken out from the official ballots that have yet to be printed by the Comelec but that did not happen. Vetellano Acosta's name stays on the ballot. I am very concerned about this, because it could confuse our voters. The COMELEC even has the gall to say that they would consider the votes received by Vetellano Acosta as 'stray votes'. That's a total waste of votes! Those votes could have gone to a more deserving candidate.” says Teacher Neric Acosta.
He also adds that if Vetallano Acosta’s name was removed, then Liberal Party standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino’s name would have appeared first, putting Aquino at an advantage since it would be easier for voters to find his name on the list of presidential candidates. “Dapat po sana ang aming pangalan ni Noynoy ang mauuna sa balota. Aquino sa pagka-Pangulo at Acosta naman po sa Senado.”
Sinister plot
In the current form of the Comelec official ballot, the names of all the presidential candidates appear in four columns and Manny Villar’s name is the only name in the fourth column. “Looks like a sinister plot. Is it logical to still have Vetellano's name on the ballots when he was already declared a nuisance candidate? Villar wants his name to be read and seen easily by the voters,” says Neric Acosta. If Vetellano Acosta's name had been stricken out, Villar’s name would already appear last in the third column list of names of presidential candidates.
