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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Wag na pinagbobobola ang sambayanan': Comelec mulls limiting span of poll substitution 

'Wag na pinagbobobola ang sambayanan': Comelec mulls limiting span of poll substitution 

Published May 3, 2024 12:15 pm

At A Glance

  • Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia is eyeing to limit the period for substitution of candidates in case of withdrawal.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia is eyeing to limit the period for substitution of candidates in case of withdrawal.

Garcia said this during a press conference at the Guimaras State University on Friday, May, 3, where he also announced that the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) will be from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8.

"Siguro mula Oct. 1 to 8, 'yan 'yung filing ng candidacy, papayagan namin mag-withdraw ka, pwede ka pang palitan. Pero after ng [October] 8, wala nang palitan ng candidacy (Perhaps from Oct. 1 to 8 which is the filing of candidacy, we will allow the withdrawal and substitution. But after Oct. 8, there will be no more change in candidates)," he said.

"'Wag na nating pinagbobobola [ang] ang sambayanan. Dapat kung sino ang kandidato, harap-harapan na. I-file n'yo na 'yung candidacy n'yo, 'wag na yung kunwari naka-front ka sa ganyan, yun pala ikaw pala ang kakandidato (Let's not fool the public. Whoever the candidate is, should file for candidacy, and not pretend to front for something and turn out to be the one gunning for the position)," he added.

After the period of filing for candidacy, Garcia said that the substitution would be allowed only in case of death or disqualification.

Asked what triggered this proposed move, he said: "Substitution as a result of withdrawal complicates everything. Di kaagad namin ma-finalize ang list of candidates at di rin kaagad matapos ang ballot faces hence, 'di makakapagsimula na makapag print ng balota (We cannot finalize early on the list of candidates and we cannot finish the ballot faces, hence, we cannot start printing the ballots)."

During the previous elections, Comelec said that substitutions for a particular post usually happen when an aspirant feels that he or she is no longer fit to run and believes that someone else is more capable of filling in. However, the decision on substitution is not exclusive to a personal degree.

"Nangyayari din ito sa isang partido kung naiisip nila na magpalit din sila ng kanilang kandidato para sa isang partikular na posisyon (This also happens within a party when they think they should replace one of their candidates for a specific position)," Comelec Education and Information Department Director Elaiza Sabile-David said.

According to Sabile-David, it is possible for a person who belongs to a different political party to change their current party affiliation the next day to substitute for someone the following day.

"Hindi po problema na ang isang kandidato ay kabilang sa kunyari partido A and then ang gusto niyang isubstitute na kandidato na nag withdraw ay kabilang sa Partido B (It's not a problem if an aspiring candidate will switch from Party A to Party B to substitute a candidate from that party who withdrew their COC)," Sabile-David explained.

"Hindi po yun hadlang para siya po ay mag substitute ang kailangan lang po magkaroon siya ng nomination from partido B para po masubstitute niya yung kandidatong nag-withdraw doon (It's not a hindrance for someone to substitute if they belong to Party A for they just need a nomination from Party B to substitute for the aspiring candidate)," she added.

Related Tags

Substitution of candidates Commission on Elections (Comelec) comelec chairman george erwin garcia COC filing
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