Comelec: No deadline for voluntary withdrawal of qualified candidates

There is no deadline for voluntary withdrawal of certificate of candidacy (COC) among qualified candidates  for the 2022 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday. 

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that the poll body only set a November 15 deadline for those who will withdraw their COC for them to be substituted by a party-mate.

"After November 15, there can be no substitution for withdrawals that are voluntary. The only deadlines we give are for substitution. For those removed from the race involuntarily by death or disqualification, the deadline on when you should submit your substitution is midday of election," Jimenez said in a press briefing.

"Taking all of that under consideration, there is, in fact, no deadline for voluntary withdrawal. You can withdraw anytime, even on the day of the election."

Jimenez also said a qualified candidate can even voluntarily withdraw even after he or she was proclaimed winner of the election.

"If that happens, the result will take that withdrawal into consideration," he added.

Jimenez, however, said it is better for the candidate not to keep the voters hanging.

"The prolonged uncertainty of whether a person is running or not is not conducive to orderly elections," he said.

Talk on voluntary withdrawal came after Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said he is backing out from the 2022 presidential race.

Go, however, has yet to go to the Comelec to formally withdraw his COC. —KBK, GMA News