With just four months to go before the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) for the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections last week announced a plan to ban withdrawals as a basis for substitution after the October 8 deadline.
In a press conference, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia said substitutions would still be allowed for withdrawals during the October 1 to 8 filing period but no longer after the deadline.
“We will pursue it because many of our countrymen say that it is excessive, and substitutions should no longer be allowed,” the former election lawyer said in announcing his plan to push for the ban before the COMELEC en banc.
He noted that some political parties misuse the substitution mechanism by fielding placeholder candidates, causing confusion among voters.
Current rules provide that political parties and coalitions have the option to substitute their nominated candidate in case of his or her death, withdrawal, or disqualification by the Comelec after the filing of the CoC.
While substitutions due to death or disqualification can be made until midday on election day, provided the substitute candidate shares the same surname, the COMELEC will determine the deadline for substitutions due to withdrawal of candidates belonging to a political party.
Garcia said there was no explicit provision in the COMELEC rules indicating whether withdrawals were allowed or prohibited after the filing of CoC.
“This means that we can decide not to allow withdrawals as a basis for substitution after the filing of candidacy,” he was quoted as saying.
This development, which Manila-based election lawyer Atty. Dexter Francisco insists will be realized, means existing political alliances in Catanduanes should better be ready for the October filing of CoCs.
This also means the controversial 2012 withdrawal for alleged health reasons of Virac Mayor Cito Alberto in favor of his wife, the Bataan-born Flerida “Nanette” Antonio, would no longer be repeated.
With a meat vendor as opponent, the veteran politico was confident enough to let his spouse take the mayoral post in his place.
And she did win, only to lose in the next election to contractor Samuel Laynes in an essentially three-cornered fight with Atty. Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr., no thanks to the controversy generated by the P33-million PDAF funds channeled to two NGOs during her term.
The 2012 candidate substitution shocked and dismayed the Virac electorate as well as the mayor’s allies, who felt that they could have given the voters a better choice had they known of his plan.
Now that this would no longer be possible for the 2025 polls, local politicians have a relatively short time to consider their candidates for key provincial and municipal posts, taking into account what they can contribute to the campaign of the contenders for governor, congressman and vice governor.
Clearly, the ultimate goal is to select the best possible candidates who have a realistic chance of victory in the mayoral races, as he or she would play a vital role in ensuring that the top three posts would remain in their hands.
In Virac, for example, the incumbent mayor has already declared his intention to run as Catanduanes’ representative in Congress with the backing of the Cuas as well as TGP Rep. Jose Teves Jr.
Whoever eventually runs in his place will have to tangle with former Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr., who is currently with first-termer Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez.
Would it be Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla who certainly needs support as far the campaign is concerned, or will it be the formidable Joseph Cua himself who is also qualified to run for another term as governor?
Given the negative effects of his transferring the implementation of infrastructure projects to the regional office on the local economy and livelihood of his constituents, the incumbent congressman would be an easier candidate to beat in 2025 compared to his previous run.
What remains now is for the Cua alliance to find the best possible combination of winnability, voter preference and campaign logistics among its prospective bets.
The same goes for Rodriguez and whoever goes with him, as well as former Rep. Hector Sanchez, former Gov. Araceli Wong and anybody else who wish to throw their hats into the dirty but exciting world of local politics.
Let the games begin!