MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is proposing a ban on substitution of candidates due to voluntary withdrawal after the period of certificate of candidacy (COC) filing.
According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, individuals who filed their COC won’t be allowed to be substituted after October 8 or the last day of COC filing, unless due to death or disqualification.
“Mukhang ‘di na namin papayagan ang substitution ng candidates,” Garcia said. “Mula October 1 to 8, ‘yan ‘yung filing of candidacy. Papayagan po namin, mag-withdraw ka, pwede ka pang palitan pero after ng (October) 8 wala nang palitan ng candidacy.”
“Huwag na natin pinagbobola ang sambayanan. Dapat kung sino ang kakandidato, harap-harapan na, i-file niyo na ‘yung candidacy niyo. Huwag na ‘yung mga kunyari naka-front ka sa ganito, ‘yun pala ikaw pala ang kakandidato,” he added.
Garcia, however, said that the substitution ban will not cover substitutions for candidates who died or were disqualified.
“Puwede ang substitution in case of death or disqualification. Wala ka namang magagawa, namatay alangang hindi papalitan. Na-disqualify, pwedeng palitan. Pero nag-withdraw, hindi na. Wala nang palitan,” Garcia said.
Article IX, Section 77 of Omnibus Election Code provides that: “If after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, only a person belonging to, and certified by, the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was disqualified.”
“I will recommend to the en banc such a proposal. I will pursue it kasi maraming mga kababayan natin ang nagsasabi na sobra naman, hindi na dapat pinapayagan ang mga palitan na ‘yan,” Garcia said.
“Kapag binasa mo ‘yung batas, ang sabi pwede ang withdrawal, pwede ang death or disqualification bilang dahilan ng substitution,” the Comelec official added./PN
