Comelec vows to resolve petitions on nuisance candidates before Oct. 30

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19) —The Commission on Elections (Comelec) vowed to resolve cases on nuisance candidates before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the agency wants a speedy resolution of these cases at the highest level, to ensure that decisions are final and executory.

“Ang commitment ng Comelec before mag-election all nuisance cases will be resolved up to the en banc level para walang nakakatakbo na nuisance candidates. Kasi kami rin ang namomroblema,” Garcia assured on Tuesday.

[Translation: The Comelec's commitment is to resolve all the nuisance cases before the elections up to the en banc level, so that there would be no nuisance candidates who are able to run. Because then it's going to be our problem.]

He cited the case in Negros Oriental in the 2022 elections, which involved the removal of sitting governor Pryde Henry Teves.

During that time, Comelec invalidated the win of Teves after it resolved a petition against a nuisance candidate who used the name “Ruel Degamo” in the ballots.

Roel Degamo, who was later proclaimed governor, filed a petition to count nearly 50,000 votes for "Ruel Degamo" as his.

The poll body approved the petition, as it declared “Ruel Degamo” a nuisance candidate.

READ: Comelec invalidates Teves win in Negros Oriental; Degamo to return as governor

Last February, the Supreme Court upheld the victory of Degamo, weeks before he was gunned down in his home.

The poll body said it wanted to avoid a repeat of this incident not just in the BSKE, but also in the national and local elections.

“Pagdating po ng national elections by 2025, bago mag-print ng balota, all nuisance cases will be resolved,” Garcia added.

[Translation: Come the national elections in 2025, before ballots are printed, all nuisance cases will be resolved.]

The poll body chief reiterated his call for the House of Representatives and Senate to criminalize nuisance candidates.

“Dineclare mong nuisance ngayon, susunod na election tatakbo na naman,” he said.

[Translation: You declare them as nuisance candidates today, but they’ll run again in the next election.]

Aside from imprisonment, Garcia proposed stiff penalties, including a fine of P500,000 and perpetual disqualification from running for public office.