October 25, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The names of all party-list nominees in the May 2025 elections are now out for public scrutiny and possible filing of petitions for cancellation of nomination.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said a petition to cancel the nomination against any party-list nominee may be filed within the next five days.
“I hope people – so the Comelec would not get questioned on why a person becomes a nominee – exercise their power and right to question anyone who gets nominated,” Garcia said, noting that the poll body does not have the power to file a motu proprio complaint to cancel the nomination of a party-list nominee.
He said a registered voter must be the one to file a complaint questioning the eligibility of a party-list nominee. A petition for cancelation of nomination may be filed against nominees who do not belong to the sectors they intend to represent.
The Comelec published in different newspapers and posted on its website the names of all party-list nominees yesterday.
Garcia said the basic qualifications of a party-list nominee are a Filipino citizen, registered voter, resident of the Philippines, no conviction with final judgment for a crime and not perpetually disqualified to hold public office.
A party-list nominee whose nomination had been canceled or opted to resign can no longer be substituted, except for those disqualified before election day.
Meanwhile, Garcia also reported that all election documents in Iriga City were damaged due to the rains brought by Tropical Storm Kristine.
Garcia, however, assured the public that there is nothing to worry as the Comelec has a “backup” system for the damaged election documents.
He added that the poll body already sought the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways in securing election equipment and documents in all local Comelec offices.
Garcia stressed the need to elevate or move to taller buildings equipment and documents from local Comelec offices affected by the massive flooding.
As for the parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), he said the Comelec continues to prepare for this poll, unless a law is passed stopping its conduct.
“Everything is all set. We are reviewing all security preparations so that necessary adjustments can be made,” Garcia said yesterday.
The Comelec has not received reports of any threat, but Garcia said the poll body cannot be complacent in ensuring the safety of the people during the BARMM elections.
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