Comelec vows to resolve cases of nuisance candidates by Nov. 30

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has committed to resolve cases involving nuisance candidates for the 2025 midterm elections by the end of November this year.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body is targeting to finish this by November 30, before the printing of the official ballots for the May 2025 national and local elections starts in December.

“Whether finile ng isang petitioner o ng isang kandidato or finile namin, i-resolve namin sa en banc level para hindi makatakbo ang mga panggulo at malagay ang pangalan sa balota,” Garcia said in a briefing with GMA Integrated News on Saturday.

(Whether the case was filed by a petitioner, a candidate, or the Comelec itself, we will resolve it at the en banc level so that they would not be able to run and that their names will not be included in the ballots.)

The filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 polls is scheduled from October 1 to 8, 2024.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 11045, the Comelec will begin uploading on its website the COCs including the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) of the aspirants on October 18.

A total of 18,280 seats covering 14 posts in 254 legislative districts will be up for grabs in the upcoming elections.

The Comelec en banc also earlier banned the substitution of candidates after the last day of COC filing if the substitution will be made due to the withdrawal of the candidate.

Garcia also explained that aspirants who will conduct activities or post materials during the COC filing will not be flagged for premature campaigning as they are not yet considered as official candidates by then.

“Asahan na po natin iyan sapagkat kanya kanyang strategy, kanya kanyang style ng pagpa-file ng candidacy,” the poll chairman said.

(Let's expect all of that because all aspirants have their own strategy and style in filing certificates of candidacy.)

“As far as election law or election laws are concerned, wala pa pong nilalabag sapagkat…hindi pa sila kandidato [nothing will be violated because they are not yet candidates],” he added.

The campaign period for those running for senator and party-list groups will begin February 11, 2025 until May 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for the House of Representatives, as well as parliamentary, provincial, city, and municipal offices will be from March 28, 2025 to May 10, 2025.

According to Garcia, the Comelec will accept all COCs that will be submitted to them within the filing period.

Even if it is dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, Garcia said that the poll body has to accept her COC if she decides to run again.

“Kahit pa siya ‘yung nakakulong ngayon na taga-Bamban, tatanggapin namin ang kanyang certificate of candidacy. Kung malalagay ang pangalan sa balota o papayagang makatakbo, ibang usapan ‘yun,” he said.

(We will accept her certificate of candidacy even if she is detained. If her name will be placed on the ballot or if she will be allowed to run, that's a different matter.)

Guo earlier said she has yet to decide whether or not she will seek reelection in the 2025 midterm elections. —RF, GMA Integrated News