MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers have thanked the Commission on Election (Comelec) for tightening guidelines relating to candidate substitution.
Manila sixth District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Thursday stated that the substitution scheme — the place a candidate would change locations with a person who has not filed his or her certificates of candidacy through the prescribed interval — impacts the preparations for elections in several points.
Adiong speculated that such strikes may be meant to shock the folks — however on the identical time make a circus out of the voting processes.
Abante in the meantime thinks those that avail of substitution solely wish to stir drama.
“Electoral processes are at the core of our democratic system […] we should insulate our electoral processes from any strategy or tactic that would appear as if we are holding a circus. Because they want to surprise the people, some say that they will run then all of a sudden you will be surprised. I think it’s also part of respecting the electorate,” Adiong stated.
“I mean, let’s stop with the surprises, let’s do away with the drama. Most of all, it’s all about transparency. That’s why the Comelec decision is a reminder that in an election, they should not use loopholes or other ways to manipulate. This is what I think of it, it seems to be a mind manipulation scheme. We should always uphold integrity and transparency for true democracy” Abante added.
According to Abante, candidates who actually wish to run ought to make their intentions identified correctly.
“I support that decision, I thank the Comelec for doing that, it only shows that the […] substitution is not good. Why do we even need that? That’s not needed. If you really decide to run, decide to run. Why would you allow someone to substitute for you? Run if you will run, abstain if you want to abstain,” Abante stated.
“It’s also a reason why the printing of official ballots takes some time because we are waiting for the substitutes to file their certificate of candidacy. The thing is, we’re thankful that Comelec did away with these so we would no longer have to wait for them […] because for me that would not even do well with our people,” he added.
On Wednesday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated that the substitution of candidates after the final day of submitting of certificates of candidacies (COC) will now not be allowed if the substitution is simply due to the candidate withdrawing.
Garcia stated the Commission en banc authorized his proposal.
The use of substitution — for functions believed by critics to be merely placeholding — began when then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte sought the presidency in 2016.
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Duterte was not in a position to file his certificates of candidacy earlier than the deadline set by Comelec in October 2015, however was nonetheless in a position to be part of the race after he swapped locations with Martin Diño.