Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (3rd from left) answers queries from the press —PNA photo by Avito Dalan
MANILA, Philippines — There are already 16 petitions filed against nuisance candidates ahead of the deadline of its filing, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.
According to Garcia, the petitions filed are all against aspirants of local posts for the 2025 polls.
READ: Filing of petition against nuisance candidates extended until Oct 16
“They are all for local, so far no one has not filed in the national level, maybe because they know that Comelec can declare them motu proprio in the national positions and maybe they know that at least when it is local, the opponents can file the petition.,” Garcia told INQUIRER.net.
Motu proprio means Comelec can decide within their own interest without a request from any party.
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READ: Comelec: Five petitions to cancel candidacy for 2025 polls filed so far
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Garcia also noted that they are expecting more petitions on the last day of filing on Wednesday. Petitions can be filed until five days after the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy, however, the deadline was moved from October 13 to October 16.
“We can’t accept petitions yesterday and today because there are no classes and work in Manila and Pasay, therefore the next working day is Wednesday,” Garcia added.
Further, Garcia previously said that there are two ways to file a petition to declare a nuisance candidate: one, by their opponent; and two, through Comelec exercising its powers to declare a nuisance candidate.
An aspirant may be declared a “nuisance” based on the following grounds:
- The COC was filed in mockery or disrepute of the elections;
- The COC causes confusion among voters due to the similarity of names with other candidates; and
- If the candidate has no genuine intention to run for the office
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