Bill to require election bond to deter nuisance candidates

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — To deter nuisance candidates from making a circus out of elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formally asked Congress to pass a law that will require candidates to post a bond.

“We are proposing that candidates who want to seek public office will be made to offer a bond, which will be returned to them if they get the required number of votes. Otherwise, the bond will be forfeited,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

He said the measure intends to discourage nuisance filings by requiring candidates for national positions to post bonds upon filing their certificates of candidacy.

“For example, the candidate post a bond and meet the required number of votes, he gets his money back because that means he’s not a nuisance, he has constituency,” Jimenez explained.

The poll body has yet to propose a particular amount for the bond but Jimenez said they would leave it up to the lawmakers to fix the amount.

Jimenez was quick to add, however, that their proposal was not intended to allow only moneyed individuals to run for public office.