Comelec says law on substitution in party-list system needs amendment

Party-list representatives who won a seat in Congress posed for a photo after their proclamation at the Philippine International Convention Center on Thursday, May 26. Photo by Daniza Fernandez/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The law needs to be amended to prevent the abuse of the substitution rule of the party-list system after polls end, Commission on Elections (Comelec) acting spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said on Thursday.

“Yes, in order to clarify the intent of legislature as to withdrawals and substitution post elections,” he told INQUIRER.net in a message when asked if there is a need to amend the law on party-list system.

“And that amendment should particularly refer to withdrawals and substitution after the close of polls po,” he said.

Laudiangco’s remark came after the Comelec granted the withdrawal of P3PWD Party-list’s five nominees, and approved its new set of nominees, including former Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon as the new first nominee.

Following the development, Guanzon will sit as P3PWD’s representative in Congress.

According to Laudiangco, the poll body cannot force nominees to remain if they opted to resign.

P3PWD nominees cited personal, health, and business reasons for their withdrawal, the acting spokesman noted.

Further, Laudiangco said that the public could still file a disqualification case against nominees if they want to.

P3PWD secured a Congress seat after getting 391,174 votes in the May 9 polls.

EDV