Comelec targets nuisance candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to issue new guidelines to weed out “nuisance candidates” in next year’s election.

The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) is scheduled on Oct. 12 to 16.

“We will come up with guidelines on what nuisance candidates are. In fact, I already asked one of our lawyers to research and look at jurisprudence to see what would classify or qualify a nuisance candidate as opposed to a viable candidate,” said Comelec Chair Andres Bautista in a press briefing.

According to Comelec Resolution No. 8678, a nuisance candidate is one who “put[s] the election process in mockery or disrepute; cause[s] confusion among the voters by the similarity of names of registered candidates; or one who has no bona fide intention to run for the office.”

“It is the responsibility of the Comelec to make sure that elections are done properly. We don’t want it to become a mockery. We should disallow candidates that would impact the solemnity of Comelec proceedings, and also the conduct of the general elections,” he added.

Bautista, however, assured that the Comelec will make sure they will not be trampling on the basic right of every individual who aspires to run for public office.

Prior to the May 2013 polls, the Comelec already thought of requiring those who plan to run for national positions to post a P1-million “candidate bond” in their bid to discourage nuisance filers.

Senate Bill 2930 would make it an election offense to file COCs only to obtain money, profit or any other consideration or to file one’s candidacy without genuine intentions to run for public office.

Meanwhile, Comelec announced that they would regulate the number of people joining the candidates in filing their COCS inside the Comelec premises.