WITH the goal of making the 2025 Midterm Elections more transparent and giving Filipinos a better understanding of who to vote for, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) plans to make aspiring candidates’ documents available to the public.
According to Comelec, aspiring candidates’ Certificates of Candidacy (COC) and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) will be made available on their website so that the public can examine the runners.
“Ilalabas natin ang lahat ng mga COC ng 44,000 na kandidato sa Pilipinas,” said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, in an interview with a media.
“At the same time, ‘yung mga CONA ng mga partylist nominees ay atin ding ilalabas sa website ng Comelec upang malaman nila kung sino ba ‘yang tumatakbo na ‘yan.”
History in the making
If this happens, it will be the first time in the country’s history that Comelec releases applicants’ COCs and CONAs. For Garcia, this approach may help the poll body in finding potential grounds for disqualification.
“Ang Comelec di namin kakilala ang lahat [ng tumatakbo]. Kikilos kami kung mayroon ding responding action ang mamamayan. Katulad ng nangyari sa Bamban,” highlighted Garcia.
“Nung una nasisi kami bakit daw hindi namin dinisqualify, eh syempre hindi naman namin kilala lahat ng tumatakbo sa buong Pilipinas,” he continued.
“Kaya’t kakailanganin na ang mga kababayan natin na magparticipate sa mga pagtutol o hindi pagsang-ayon sa mismong kandidato,” the chairman added.
Chairman Garcia also encourages the public to thoroughly review the information that will be released. Furthermore, the Comelec’s move would be perceived as an opportunity for Filipinos to determine who they should vote for.
“Sana po ‘yung mga kababayan natin ay titingnan din nila ‘yung mga ilalabas nating listahan,” asked Garcia.
“Tingnan po nila kung sino ‘yung mga nominees kung sino sa kanila ang sa palagay nila hindi naman dapat makatakbo ‘yang mga ‘yan marapat sa kanila ang makuwestiyon.”
What about the “nuisance” candidates?
In a related report, Comelec stated that 117 senatorial candidates who were not included on the partial list of qualifying bettors will be given the opportunity to plead their case before Comelec.
The Omnibus Election Code empowers Comelec, on its own or in response to a verified petition, to refuse or revoke the candidacies of aspirants who threaten the integrity and dignity of the polls, or those who are deemed as “nuisance” candidates.
“Kinakailangan ‘yung mga nuisance candidate natatanggal sa balota upang hindi rin magkakaroon ng problema ang Comelec later o kaya naman nakakagulo, nakakalito sa ating mga kababayan kapag namimili na ng iboboto,” said Garcia.
Comelec intends to settle all petitions against alleged nuisance candidates in November in order to establish a final list of candidates for ballot printing by the end of December.
