Kapag nag-file ka, ‘yun na! Senators seek ban on substitution rule for candidates

Senator Win Gatchalian and four other senators filed on Monday a bill banning the option to substitute an electoral aspirant who voluntarily withdraws candidacy in any forthcoming elections.

The other authors of the bill are Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri and Senators Nancy Binay, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva.

While Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code allows the substitution to replace an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party who dies, disqualified for any cause or withdraws from the electoral race, Gatchalian pointed out that the latter has been abused for substitution over the years and is observed as a mockery of the process of filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs).

In seeking to amend the Omnibus Election Code, Gatchalian proposed the replacement of a candidate if the original aspirant becomes incapacitated.

“Sagrado ang balota. Kaya dapat lamang na pahalagahan natin ang paghahain ng kandidatura tuwing eleksyon. Isang pribilehiyo ang makapagsilbi sa bayan kaya dapat lamang na ang personalidad na unang napili ng partido ay buo na ang loob na tumakbo,” he said.

“Maliwanag ang intensyon ng batas. Ito ay ang gawing mas maayos ang ating halalan at transparent. Naaabuso lang ng iba. Kapag nag-file ka, ‘yun na, hindi na dapat palitan. Papalitan ka lang kung ikaw ay namatay o kung ikaw ay na-disqualify,” he added.

The rationale in limiting the grounds for substitution, the senator explained, is aimed at further strengthening and institutionalizing the political party system and leveling the election playing field in the country.

Under the rules laid down by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for next year’s elections, the substitute of an aspirant or official candidate of a duly registered political party or coalition who died, withdrew his or her candidacy, or was disqualified may file a COC on or before November 15, 2021.

No substitution due to withdrawal shall be allowed after that date.

The same Comelec resolution says that the substitute for a candidate who died or was disqualified by final judgement may file a COC up to mid-day of election day, May 9, 2022, provided that the substitute and the original candidate have the same surnames.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)