By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It was former President Rodrigo Duterte who started the trend when he was a substitute presidential candidate of PDP-Laban for barangay chairman Martin Diño who filed first the candidacy for president only to withdraw later.
Now, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to halt the trend as it announced on Wednesday (15 May 2024) that it has decided to hold the filing of a certificate of candidacy (COC) and the withdrawal and substitution of candidates in the same period.
“Wala nang substitution after the last day ng filing ng COC,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said.
The poll body chief disclosed that the en banc had unanimously approved his proposal to coincide the October 1 to 8 filing of the COC period with the filing of withdrawal and substitution.
He underscored that substitution beyond the Oct. 8 deadline would be allowed only upon the death or disqualification of the candidate.
It can be noted that the Comelec has traditionally held separate filing periods of COC and the withdrawal and substitution of candidates.
But in recent elections, the timeline had seemingly “prostituted” as it served as an avenue for political parties to put “placeholder” candidates to be substituted before the deadline.
(el Amigo/MNM)
