Bill to consider elected execs resigned if they run in polls

MANILA, Philippines—The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms has approved a bill seeking to consider elected public officials, including the President and Vice President, resigned from office upon the filing of their certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for the election.

San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, author of House Bill No. 2877, or An Act Declaring An Elective Official IPSO Facto Resigned From His Office Upon The Filing of His Certificate of Candidacy, said it was approved by the committee on May 24.

The report, which has yet to be issued, will be submitted to the committee on rules to schedule it for plenary deliberations.

The measure seeks to repeal certain sections of Republic Act  No. 9006 otherwise known as the Fair Elections Practices Act, so that any elective official running for any public office shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of the CoCs.

“In doing this, the constitutional edict to all public officials to serve the people with utmost loyalty and the doctrine that public office is a public trust, are preserved and honored,” Ejercito said.