The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill that proposes an efficient procedure in determining a nuisance candidate and imposing stiffer penalties on violators for making a mockery of the integrity of elections.
With 196 affirmative votes and zero negative, the Lower House approved House Bill 9557 authored by 1st District Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento.
Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, lauded the House leadership for its swift passage of the measure, noting that this will preserve the integrity of poll exercises.
He said the legislative proposal also seeks to ensure that the true will of the people will be reflected in the results of the elections.
There have been numerous instances in the past that nuisance candidates are being allowed to file their certificates of candidacy although their purpose in running is to reduce the chances of winning of another candidate.
Candidates who have similar names with a serious bet are usually bribed into running in order to sow confusion among voters.
“The election of a country’s leaders is one imbued with a sanctity that shall at all times be protected. The results of an election is an embodiment of democracy and thus, must not be made the subject of mockery by these so-called nuisance candidates,” explained Sarmiento.
Under HB 9557 a minimum fine of P100,000 will be imposed on persons who file certificate of candidacy merely to put the election process in mockery or disrepute.
Persons who have conspired with the nuisance candidate will also be held liable to a minimum fine of P100,0000.
Sarmiento filed the original bill that seeks to impose P100,000 fine on a person declared by the Commission on Elections as a “nuisance candidate.” Individuals or groups of individuals found guilty of having induced the candidate to file the certificate of candidacy will also be separately held liable to the P100,000 fine.
Penalties as provided under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines will also be imposed on a person already declared a nuisance candidate but still misrepresents oneself as a candidate by continuing to campaign.
The Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chaired by Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie De Leon-Ferrer unanimously endorsed passage of the measure.
The bill grants the Comelec the act on the petition of an interested party to cancel the certificate of candidacy of a bet who is considered to have placed the election process in mockery, disrepute or cause confusion among voters by the similiarity of the names of the registered candidates.
Comelec proceedings on the complaint will be “summary in nature” and recommendations are expected to be submitted within five days after the filing of documentary evidence.