An individual who wishes to run for public office can do so without limitations, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Percival Mendoza said.
Responding to queries and observations that some individuals seem to repeatedly file their certificates of candidacy (COC), Mendoza said the Constitution clearly states that the only limitation applies to those elected into office: two consecutive terms for senators and three consecutive terms for congressmen and local government officials.
“Pero sa mga natalo, kahit ilang beses ka matalo pero gusto mo pa rin tumakbo, wala,” he said.
He also explained that the only limitation applies to party-list groups. If a party-list does not win a seat for two consecutive elections, it will be dissolved.
Mendoza also clarified that under the Omnibus Election Code, an individual who files a certificate of candidacy only to make fun of the election or create confusion among the public can be declared a nuisance candidate, either through a motu proprio action by the Commission on Elections or a petition filed by any registered voter.
He further explained that although the filing of COCs is already over, those who filed are still not considered official candidates and therefore cannot be charged with premature campaigning or vote buying.
“Yung vote buying, hindi pa natin ma-determine dahil unang-una, hindi pa election period at hindi pa rin campaign period,” he said.
“Pagdating naman sa premature campaigning, napakahirap sa ngayon dahil halos wala na ngang premature campaigning dahil magkakaroon lang ng election offense kapag ang isang tao ay opisyal na kandidato na at magiging opisyal na kandidato lamang ang isang tao na nag-file ng candidacy, during the campaign period. So nasaan pa yung sinasabing early campaigning,” he added.
Moreover, he said that aspirants who organize and sponsor activities are not yet obliged to declare their expenses as part of their election expenditures.
“So siguro manawagan tayo sa ating mga mambabatas na baguhin, magkaroon ng reporma ukol sa mga batas ng halalan,” he said.
