Pimentel: Comelec should ‘do away’ with substitution during elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should “do away” with the substitution of candidates during elections because it is a “waste of time,” Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Tuesday.

During a joint congressional oversight committee on automated elections system, Pimentel said that the period for the substitution of candidates is “a waste of time” and he will look into coming up with a bill to amend the Omnibus Election Code.

“What’s the point of the substitution? And then you will say you were pressed for time and we have a wasted period of time and you cannot finalize anything kasi if you allow substitution,” Pimentel said, addressing officials from the Comelec.

“Siguro in the stand of the hearing na lang, we can ask you kung ano yung opinion ninyo dyan. You can tell us your opinion and then we can come up with a bill to fix it kasi otherwise, it’s a waste of time,” he added.

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas concurred with Pimentel’s pronouncement to amend the election code regarding the substitution of candidates.

“We really appreciate, sir, kung ma-aamend siya kasi under the rules talagang allowed… Mas maganda yung mas mabilis naming malaman yung final list. Mas favorable sa amin,” Abas said, addressing Pimentel.

The Comelec set the deadline of substitutions of candidates on Nov. 29 and was firm that there will be no extensions.

Asked by the panel whether the Nov. 29 deadline is final and if there will be an extension, Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said that there will no longer be an extension for the substitution

“Yes, definite na po yung Nov. 29. Wala nang extension kasi ‘yung final list ang aming deadline is Dec. 15,” Abas said.

“So kung i-eextend pa namin, magkakaproblema pa kami sa final list. So wala nang extension on substitution,” he added.

Pimentel then told reporters that the Comelec should “do away with the substitution” in future elections because the Comelec cannot finalize its final ballot during the substitution period.

“The substitution is allowed under current law pero siguro for future elections, automated elections, it’s a complete waste of time to allow the substitution of candidates kasi during that period Comelec cannot finalize anything about the ballot,” Pimentel told reporters in an interview.

“So dapat siguro yung policy na yun pag-isipan mabuti,” he added.  /muf