The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has signaled its openness to reviewing a recommendation from the Office of the Ombudsman that would modify the guidelines for individuals submitting their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for public office.
In a statement on Monday, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia welcomed the initiative, highlighting that it deserves a thorough evaluation and does not seem to add any unconstitutional eligibility requirements for candidates.
“This is a very good proposal that we will study very carefully. This is not an additional qualification, so it seems that we will not have any difficulty in approving it. We are open to such things,” Garcia said.
When questioned about whether the policy change would require congressional approval, Garcia explained that the election commission has the authority to implement the modification independently.
“just a resolution is enough”, adding that critics can question it before the Supreme Court.
The recommendation, introduced by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, mandates that political aspirants explicitly declare under oath that they hold no conflicting interests at the time they file their COCs.
Under the envisioned rule change, any candidate discovered to have falsified this sworn statement could be penalized with disqualification from the race.
As it stands, the Omnibus Election Code dictates that all candidates must file their official certificates within a designated timeframe ahead of local or national polls.
A standard COC gathers vital data regarding the aspirant, including their complete name, age, marital status, residential address, and other legally required personal disclosures.