Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said Thursday, October 14, that he supports the proposals for the prohibition on the substitution of candidates by political parties.
In the virtual Pandesal Forum, Lacson agreed that the substitution rule in the Philippines' Omnibus Election Code has been taken advantage by people who have no intention of actually running for office.
"Yes, I fully support that. Kasi minsan sinasadya na talaga na mag-file na wala naman talagang intention na tuluyang mangampanya o tuluyang lumaban (Because sometimes they do it on purpose that they file without the actual intention to campaign for fight for the post)," the presidential aspirant said when asked on his comment.
"Magfa-file pero ang nasa isipan nila (They will file but they are actually planning that) eventually they will withdraw and give way to other candidates," he added.
"I dont think it is fair and rational, if I may say that, na magfa-file (to file) with no intention at tall to really go through the campaign and the election proper," Lacson said.
His running mate for vice president, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, earlier opined that the substitution of candidates as allowed by the law has already been "abused". He said the law should be amended.
In the House of Representatives, House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez filed a bill that would prohibit a political party from substituting any candidate unless their candidate dies or is disqualified.
"'Pag nag-file ka (Once you filed for candidacy), that's it, either you withdraw or push through. Wala na dapat 'yong mga substition (There should be no substitution anymore), expect of course under very exceptional cases, in case of death or incapacity of the candidate," Lacson said.
The Omnibus Election Code currently allows the substitution of candidates in the case of death, disqualification and withdrawal. For the 2022 elections, political parties may replace their candidates until November 15.
The Lakas-CMD earlier admitted fielding a placeholder for the presidential race for when Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio decides to run for the country's highest post. She repeatedly said that she wanted to finish a third term as local chief executive.
In 2015, her father, President Duterte, withdrew his candidacy for Davao City mayor and filed to replace then Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) standard bearer Martin Diño for the 2016 presidential polls.