The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially announced a stricter filing process for aspiring candidates, requiring the submission of birth certificates for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and all succeeding polls.
In an interview on Thursday, COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia explained that this additional document is a proactive measure to resolve long-standing disputes regarding a candidate’s age and citizenship.
“Gusto po namin na ang lahat ng kandidatura ng mga tao na magfa-file ng kanilang candidacy ay may kalakip na birth certificate,” Garcia told reporters.
The move aims to provide a factual basis for the information declared by candidates, effectively filtering out those who do not meet the legal requirements to hold office.
“Para mas makita namin, malaman namin kailan talaga ipinanganak ang taong iyan para maiwasan ang mga underage na nagfa-file at ang napakaraming kaso na nare-receive ng Comelec, o kaya naman ang issue ng citizenship,” he added.
Addressing potential legal questions, Garcia clarified that the commission is within its rights to ask for supporting evidence, as the data requested is already a standard part of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) form.
“Hindi po naman pinagbabawal ng batas na magpa-submit kami ng birth certificate. Bakit? Kasi tinatanong naman doon kung ilang taon na siya at kung kailan siya ipinanganak sa kanyang COC. Hindi ba marapat lamang na patunayan ito sa pamamagitan ng paglalakip ng birth certificate?”
Addressing Integrity Concerns
This policy shift follows a period of intense public and legal scrutiny regarding the identity and nationality of elective officials.
The most notable case involved former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose Filipino citizenship was successfully challenged after she had already assumed office.
Previously, the COMELEC maintained a “ministerial” role, meaning they were mandated to accept COCs as long as they were filed correctly, without immediate verification of the contents. The new requirement adds a layer of authentication to this process.