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MANILA, Philippines \u2014 Two lawmakers have thanked the Commission on Election (Comelec) for tightening guidelines relating to candidate substitution.<\/span><\/p>\n Manila sixth District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Thursday stated that the substitution scheme \u2014 the place a candidate would change locations with a person who has not filed his or her certificates of candidacy through the prescribed interval \u2014 impacts the preparations for elections in several points.<\/span><\/p>\n Adiong speculated that such strikes may be meant to shock the folks \u2014 however on the identical time make a circus out of the voting processes.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Abante in the meantime thinks those that avail of substitution solely wish to stir drama.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cElectoral processes are at the core of our democratic system [\u2026] we should insulate our electoral processes from any strategy or tactic that would appear as if we are holding a circus.\u00a0 Because they want to surprise the people, some say that they will run then all of a sudden you will be surprised.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s also part of respecting the electorate,\u201d Adiong stated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI mean, let\u2019s stop with the surprises, let\u2019s do away with the drama.\u00a0 Most of all, it\u2019s all about transparency.\u00a0 That\u2019s why the Comelec decision is a reminder that in an election, they should not use loopholes or other ways to manipulate.\u00a0 This is what I think of it, it seems to be a mind manipulation scheme.\u00a0 We should always uphold integrity and transparency for true democracy\u201d Abante added.<\/span><\/p>\n According to Abante, candidates who actually wish to run ought to make their intentions identified correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI support that decision, I thank the Comelec for doing that, it only shows that the [\u2026] substitution is not good.\u00a0 Why do we even need that?\u00a0 That\u2019s not needed.\u00a0 If you really decide to run, decide to run.\u00a0 Why would you allow someone to substitute for you?\u00a0 Run if you will run, abstain if you want to abstain,\u201d Abante stated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019re thankful that Comelec did away with these so we would no longer have to wait for them [\u2026] because for me that would not even do well with our people,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n On Wednesday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated that the substitution of candidates after the final day of submitting of certificates of candidacies (COC)<\/a> will now not be allowed if the substitution is simply due to the candidate withdrawing.<\/span><\/p>\n Garcia stated the Commission en banc authorized his proposal.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The use of substitution \u2014 for functions believed by critics to be merely placeholding \u2014 began when then Davao City Mayor\u00a0 Rodrigo Duterte sought the presidency in 2016.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n