Comelec explains acceptance of Tarlac town mayor’s COC

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia yesterday explained the reason why the Comelec accepted the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac during the 2022 general elections.

Garcia said a formal petition from a registered voter questioning the misrepresentation of a candidate is needed to deny or cancel a COC.

“There should be a formal petition filed by a registered voter to question the misrepresentation made by the candidate, to cause the cancellation or denial of due course of the candidacy,” Garcia said.

He made the clarification amid a Senate inquiry on Guo’s background and citizenship.

Guo has been suspected of having Chinese citizenship following the discovery of several Philippine offshore gaming operator firms in Bamban.

Garcia said the Comelec has no power to question on its own or motu proprio a candidate’s age, residency and citizenship.

Based on the law, the Comelec has the ministerial duty to accept an accomplished COC that was prescribed under oath, he said.

“There must be a petition filed. Per our records, there was no case filed or pending against then candidate Guo,” Garcia said.

If no formal petition for cancellation of the COC was filed, the aspirant should be included in the list of candidates.

He said that at this time, the Comelec has no jurisdiction over Guo since she has been proclaimed as duly elected mayor of Bamban.