Comelec wants to criminalize nuisance candidacy
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) called for the criminalization of nuisance candidacy during polls.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said in an interview with dzBB on Jan. 18, "Ako po ay naniniwala na 'yang nuisance candidacy, dapat gawing criminal 'yan."
"Kung hindi kulong, dapat patawan ng multa bilang parusa," he added.
Garcia shared that candidates are declared a nuisance for reasons including their background, whether or not they have supporters, and how serious they are about running.
"Marami po kasing tumatakbo dahil lang sa masaya lang siya mag-file ng candidacy. 15 minutes of fame. Meron naman po nag-fi-file ng candidacy nagpapabayad para bayaran ng katulad ng pangalan o maiistorbo diyan yung kandidatura."
The poll body chief continued to say that the Omnibus Election Code should be updated to decrease nuisance candidates. He also raised how there's a "disconnect" between the laws and elections as the governing rules apply to manual polls.
"Hangga't hindi binabago yung batas natin sa pagdedeklara ng nuisance candidate, mananatili pong isang nuisance candidate sa ating balota," Garcia said.
"Unli po kasi 'yung pagtatakbo kahit na-i-deklare mo nang nuisance candidate."
Wasted ballots
Comelec is set to begin reprinting ballots for the midterm elections after it suspended operations on Jan. 14. This came after the SC issued temporary restraining orders on decisions disqualifying candidates.
The six million printed ballots, worth an estimated P132 million (at P22 each), have all gone to waste.
On Saturday, the Supreme Court (SC) prevented Comelec from implementing its decisions against three candidates in the midterm elections.
The poll body dismissed Bataan vice mayor aspirant Marie Grace David's petition for substitution; declared Mary Dominique Oñate, who's gunning for Palompon, Leyte mayor as a nuisance candidate; and canceled Aldrin Sta. Ana's bid for Bocaue, Bulacan mayor.
The names will be included in the official ballots as the poll body reprints ballots.
The midterm elections are on May 12, 2025.
Overseas Filipinos may vote from April 13 to May 12, while local absentees—AFP, the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners—may vote from April 28 to 30.
Comelec said there are 18,272 national and local political posts in 2025, which is 200 more than the posts from the 2022 polls.
