Bill seeks to stop beaten bets from getting posts back

LEGAZPI CITY—A bill is sitting in the House of Representatives seeking to mandate the resignation of all elective officials who are running for positions other than those they currently hold.

The bill, authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay, first district), seeks to amend a provision of the Fair Elections Act by repealing section 26 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations.

Lagman said Section 26 of the law’s IRR allows elective officials, like senators, who seek higher positions to serve the remainder of their terms should they lose in their bids for the higher post.

In a statement, Lagman said the section “insulated from mandatory resignation” elected officials, “mostly senators,” aspiring for the two highest positions in the land—president and vice president.

This section of the Fair Election Act, he said, makes the law “not fair and unethical.”

“It is inequitable and its odious section gives elective officials the imprimatur not to relinquish their current office should they aspire for the presidency or vice presidency,” Lagman said.

He said he filed the bill “because as elected officials, our political mandate is to serve the full term of our office without interruption.”

“We were elected by the people to fulfill that mandate. If we opt to run for another position or accept a government appointment, it is only ethical, fair and just to vacate the seat we were elected to,” Lagman said.