No more subs for bets
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has banned the substution of candidates after the end of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the
2025 national and local polls.
The filing of COCs for next year’s political exercises is set to start on October 1 (Tuesday) and ends October 8 (Tuesday), according to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia.
However, if a candidate dies or is disqualified by the poll body after October 8 and all the way up to Election Day, he/she may still be substituted.
But the Comelec pointed out that the substitute has the same surname and belongs to the same political party as that of the deceased or disqualified candidate.
In coming out with the prohibition, which was made by the commission en banc last Wednesday, Garcia explained: “This is so that the people will not be deceived.”
He added: “If you really want to render service to the public, isn’t it better if you’re decided, for you to disclose it quickly (and) file your (certificate) of candidacy already.”
As a well-meaning Filipino, we share the view of poll officials that candidates, local and national, ought to lay their cards on the table.
In the past, many candidates, particularly in the countryside, filed their COCs only to withdraw as Election Day approached.
“Ito ay para lang makaiwas sa maagang pamimigay ng tulong o ayuda sa mga botanteng ginagawang negosyo ang eleksyon,” an elderly voter said.
The Comelec deserves the support of the people, including the ordinary citizens, as it exerts efforts to make elections honest, clean, orderly and credible political exercises.
It’s good for the people and country.
