‘Nuisance candidates’
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) continues its preparations for next year’s May 12 national and local election, which is “democracy in action.”
Six months before election day, the poll body, chaired by top election lawyer George Erwin Garcia, declared 47 individuals as “nuisance candidates.”
The 47 nuisance bets were among the 183 men and women who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for senator in the forthcoming mid-term political exercise.
However, the disqualified senatorial candidates may still appeal the decision of the Comelec.
Declaring a “nuisance candidate” by the poll body is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the country’s electoral process.
Likewise, the Comelec is mandated to stop the mockery of the electoral process and prevent confusion among the voters.
“Ayaw ng poll body na malito ang mga botante kaya sinasala nilang mabuti ang mga pangalan ng mga kandidato.” an elderly voter said.
Declaring a “nuisance candidate is done through either “motu propio” by the poll body itself or upon a verified petition of an interested party.
The Comelec posted the list of “nuisance candidates” for senator on its official social media account last Saturday.
Up for grabs in the 2025 polls are 12 seats for senator, more than 300 slots in the House of Representatives and thousands of local government officials.
These are governors, vice governors, board members, city/munisipal mayors and vice mayors, and city/town councilors.
