Senator Francis Tolentino interpellates during the Commission on Appointments Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices hearing on Wednesday, September 7. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Electoral hopefuls should declare in their certificate of candidacies (COCs) their opposition to groups pushing for violence and aiming to topple the government.
Senator Francis Tolentino raised the matter during the Commission on Appointments (CA) Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices hearing on the nomination of Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia on Wednesday.
“Can this be placed — I’m just toying this idea — for the candidate to declare that I will not support any organization that advocates violence or unlawful means to achieve its goals and to overthrow the government of the Republic of the Philippines?” Tolentino asked Garcia.
Garcia, who was eventually confirmed as Comelec chairman until February 2, 2029, responded in the affirmative: “We will include that, Your Honor, because that’s what the law provides even Republic Act 6646 and 9369.”
Moreover, Tolentino wants the poll body to remove the provision in the COC that states that candidates are willing to consent to collect their data, noting that it may lead to scams.
Garcia replied: “If to the belief of the honorable senator that that will be violative of the data privacy and the individual’s right to privacy, then the commission will seriously consider such a suggestion.”