MANILA, Philippines — Administration lawmakers have expressed support for the plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prohibit candidates from taking advantage of substitution by means of withdrawal of their certificate of candidacy (COC) and advancing their personal interest.
“Through the years, substitution by reason of withdrawal has been used in numerous instances without any valid cause or reason from the withdrawing candidate. In short, it’s a massive deception of the electorate,” Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan said.
Robes, along with Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City’s sixth district, was among the lawmakers who supported the move of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms led by Rep. Maximo Dalog to consolidate bills supporting Comelec’s move to ban substitutions.
The Comelec chief earlier announced plans to ban withdrawal of candidates as a basis for substitution after candidates submit their certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 midterm elections by October this year.
Among the five measures that will be consolidated are House Bills 437, 5692, 8794, 9069 and 10186, all aimed at amending Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, or Batas Pambansa 881.
The Dalog panel has also instructed Comelec to submit its position paper on the issue.
Pilar indicated that she intends to draw the line between a candidate’s death and disqualification, which are unexpected.
“Withdrawal, unlike death or disqualification, is a voluntary act. One that should not be taken lightly or intently manipulated for political gain,” she said.
“We have witnessed the regrettable practice of using individuals as mere placeholders, which is a mockery of certification of candidacy (COC) process. This undermines the integrity of our elections and erodes public trust,” she said.
She has observed that the electoral provision on substitution was a “loophole that has been exploited for far too long.”
Pilar suggested that this be removed, so that a candidate can no longer be allowed to withdraw his COC and have a valid ground for substitution.
Pilar, author of House Bill 8794, proposed it would be an entirely different thing altogether, however, if a candidate has been reduced to “permanent incapacity” and should then be allowed to withdraw, or be a valid ground for substitution.
According to her, this ensures that a political party will have recourse in the event of unforeseen circumstances that render a candidate unable to fulfill his or her duties.