MANILA – Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon opposed the proposal of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to fine nuisance candidates.
Sanctioning nuisance candidates might discourage underprivileged aspirants from seeking elective government positions, Guanzon said on Friday.
Weeding out the elections of nuisance candidates is already part of Comelec’s responsibilities, she added.
“Baka ma-penalize iyong mga walang pera. Kung ganyan, takot na lang iyong mga walang pera na mag-file,” said Guanzon said. “Ayoko iyan kasi baka discriminatory iyan sa mga kakandidato – na akala nila pwede sila, e biglang na-nuisance sila, hindi naman nila kasalanan iyon.”
She added: “Sa paniwala nila, may kakayahan sila, o bakit ko sila ipe-penalize? ’Pag sila ay na-nuisance, trabaho naman namin iyon [na alisin sila], libre naman.”
Gatchalian’s Senate Bill 911 seeks to amend Sections 69, 261, and 269 of the Omnibus Election Code, stating that “while the Comelec is mandated by law to receive certificates of candidacy as its ministerial duty, the onslaught of candidates who do not intend to launch a viable campaign is wasting the precious time and resources of Comelec.”
If an individual was proven to have no genuine intention to run for public office, they shall be guilty of an election offense and slapped with a P50,000 fine, the bill noted.
‘CHILLING EFFECT’ FEARED
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, on the other hand, said the proposal may create a “chilling effect” on individuals seeking government positions.
“Ibig sabihin niyan, ang mangyayari magki-create ka ngayon ng parang risk – magfa-file ka lang ng COC kapag willing ka mag-risk na hindi ka made-declare na nuisance … ’Di kaya mag-create ng chilling effect iyan doon sa mga gustong tumakbo?” Jimenez said.
Comelec has grounds for declaring an aspiring candidate a nuisance but cannot predict that status all the time, he said. “Kung minsan iyong akala mong talagang sure na sure, biglang nuisance.”
A total of 152 senatorial aspirants filed their COCs while 185 party-list groups registered to run for seats in next year’s midterm elections, during the five-day filing period given by Comelec.
Comelec said the official list of candidates will be released on Dec. 15. (GMA News/PN)
