THE Commission on Elections First Division yesterday junked the disqualification cases against Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former senator Sergio Osmeña III, who are both running for senator in the May elections.

The poll body, in separate decisions, dismissed the disqualification pleas against the two senatorial bets for lack of merit.

Osmeña is running as an independent candidate while Santiago is seeking reelection under the People’s Reform Party. She is also a guest candidate of five other parties.

Lawyer Nombraan Pangcoga filed the disqualification case against Santiago citing  her alleged  “unsound mind” and unparliamentary conduct.

Santiago had since denied the accusations and pointed to her arch nemesis, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, as the brains behind the disqualification case.