No substitution of candidates after Dec. 14, 2009 deadline, Comelec rules
TACLOBAN CITY- Days after the deadline of filing of certificates of candidacy (CoC), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office here reiterated its guideline that there will be no more substitution of candidates after December 14, 2009 or five months before the elections.
But provincial election supervisor Lawyer Felicisimo Embalsado said that the filing of CoC of a substitute candidate for a politician who withdraws from the 2010 race was set earlier than in the past elections in preparation for the automated polls.
“Those who will change their mind and want to be entitled of substitution should withdraw not later than December 14. Their replacement should be a member of their party,” he explained.
With the use of automated counting machines and printed ballots, the Comelec was forced to change the rules, setting an early deadline to enable the inclusion of the substitute candidate’s name in the ballot.
Under the new law, the official said that a candidate could withdraw his candidacy anytime, but if he did it after December 14, his substitute would not be able to join the race.
He bared, however, that the rule does not apply to those running that don’t belong to any party since the law does not allow substitution for them.
“No substitution for independents whatever is the circumstances,” Embalsado stressed.
The Comelec resolution issued earlier clarified that “No person who has withdrawn his candidacy for a position shall be eligible for any other position after the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy.”
Only the substitute for a candidate who died or suffered permanent incapacity or disqualified by a court could file a CoC up to mid-day of Election Day, according to the Comelec rules. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
Read More on Leyte Samar Daily Express
- Filing of certificates of candidacy officially begins today – Comelec
- Comelec : No extension of voters registration
- Voters registration resumes on Monday, Dec. 21, Comelec says
- Rep. Mercado, Maasin City officials file CoCs
- 45 candidates file CoCs in Southern Leyte; reelectionist Maasin vice mayor running unopposed
