The Commission on Elections has banned the substation of poll aspirants who withdraw from the race at the last minute to open a spot for reserve candidates, at least for the 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec Chair George Garcia said the poll body approved a resolution disallowing substitutions beyond the designated period for filing certificates of candidacies (COCs). “It was unanimous. Our commission en banc agreed to our proposal that there would be no more substitutions after the last day of the filing of candidacy, which is October 8, if the ground is withdrawal of candidacy,” he said.
He said substitutions during the Oct. 1 to 8 COC filing period may still be allowed. Afterwhich, and all the way to Election Day, substitutions will only be allowed if the candidate has died or is disqualified with finality, and only if the substitute has the same surname and belongs to the same political party as the deceased or disqualified candidate.
“This is so that people will not be deceived. If you really want to render service to the public, isn’t it better, if you’re really decided, for you to disclose it quickly [and] file your candidacy already.”
“To the candidates, lay your cards on the table. To the candidates, say it already, face [the people and tell them] that you are the candidate and we have no more substitution,” Garcia said.
The most famous example of this practice would be former President Rodrigo Duterte, who, in November 2015, took the place of his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan party mate Martin Diño, who admitted to being a placeholder for Duterte.
In the 2022 elections, the formula was applied once more by Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who filled in for another placeholder, Lyle Fernando Uy of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. For whatever reason, this disingenuous substitution tactic has become a popular path for candidates.
Bills have been filed in Congress seeking to ban the practice of substitution by withdrawal, which critics describe as a loophole being used by politicians to stir up drama.
With the Comelec having taken the initiative, at least for the next elections, it is now up to our elected representatives, including those who see nothing wrong in exploiting loopholes for their political dynasty’s benefit, to show Filipinos they can use their legislative power to permanently ban such a practice that only benefits their kind.*
