‘STOP PRETENDING’: COMELEC chair proposes ban on bet substitution post-COC filing

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia announced a proposal to prohibit the substitution of candidates after the filing of their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections, aiming to enhance electoral integrity.

“Mukhang hindi na namin papayagan ang substitution ng candidates […] October 1 to 8 yung filing ng candidacy. Mag-withdraw ka, papayagan namin, pwede ka pang palitan pero after mag-file ng COC wala ng palitan ng candidacy,” Garcia told reporters at an event in Guimaras on Friday, May 3.

(It seems we will no longer allow the substitution of candidates after the filing of COC. You can withdraw and be replaced during the candidacy filing period from October 1 to 8, but after filing the COC, no more changes will be permitted)

Under the current rules, as stipulated in Article IX, Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, political parties and coalitions are allowed to substitute their nominated candidates if the original candidate dies, withdraws, or is disqualified by the COMELEC after the COC filing.

Substitutions due to death or disqualification can occur up until midday on election day, provided the substitute has the same surname as the original candidate.

The right to substitute does not apply to independent candidates as no political party is affected.

“Ang batas ay hindi nagsasabi na pwedeng payagan o hindi payagan ang withdrawal pagkatapos ng filing ng candidacy. Kaya maaari naming ipatupad na hindi payagan ang withdrawal bilang basehan para sa substitution pagkatapos ng filing ng COCs,” Garcia explained.

(The law does not specify whether to allow or disallow withdrawals after the filing of candidacy. Thus, we can enforce a rule to not allow withdrawal as a basis for substitution after the COCs are filed).

The filing of COCs for the 2025 midterm elections is set for October 1 to 8 this year.

“I will recommend to the en banc (COMELEC) the said proposal, and we will pursue it because many of our countrymen say that it is excessive, and substitutions should no longer be allowed,” Garcia added.

This proposed change targets to curb the practice of political parties using the substitution mechanism to field placeholder candidates, which, according to Garcia, causes voter confusion.

“Kung sino ang kandidato, dapat harap-harapan. Mag-file na kayo ng inyong candidacy. Huwag nang magpanggap na ito ang nasa unahan, pero iba pala ang kandidato,” he emphasized.

(Candidates should be straightforward. File your candidacy honestly. Stop pretending to be a front when someone else is actually the candidate.)

Garcia also expressed confidence that COMELEC would meet its target of adding 3 million new voter registrants for the upcoming elections, citing that “it looks like COMELEC’s campaign is a success, as we’ve registered 2.7 million in just two months… Hopefully, we will reach the 3 million additional voters.”

The COMELEC chair was in Guimaras to participate in a voter education and registration fair, part of COMELEC’s efforts to educate voters about their rights and encourage youth participation in the ongoing registration.