Comelec tightens candidate rules for 2025 elections with new guidelines

Candidates for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan positions. (INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) released guidelines that will tighten the requirements for candidates in the 2025 national, local, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections.

Under Resolution number 11046, or “Rules of Procedure on the Filing of (1) Petition to Deny Due Course to and/or Cancel Certificate of Candidacy; (2) Petition to Declare a Nuisance Candidate; and (3) Petition for Disqualification,” the poll body said a candidate may be denied to run in the elections or have their certificate of candidacy (COC) canceled if proven to have declared false information in the certificate.

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Meanwhile, an aspiring politician may be declared a “nuisance” based on the following grounds:

• The COC was filed in mockery or disrepute of the elections
• The COC causes confusion among voters due to the similarity of names with other candidates
• If the candidate has no genuine intention to run for the office

The Comelec added that political aspirants may be disqualified if found guilty of vote-buying, committing acts of terrorism, overspending on election campaigns, illegally soliciting contributions, or violating the Omnibus Election Code and the Local Government Code.

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“In case of substitution of candidate by reason of death or incapacity, the Petition must be filed within five days from the time the substitute candidate filed his COC,” the Resolution read.

The poll body also set January 10 of next year as the deadline for political parties to submit documents, which will determine which are the “dominant majority party” and the “dominant minority party.”

The documents will also determine who the 10 major national parties and two major local parties are.