THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to finally review its rules for withdrawal and substitution of candidates after the 2022 polls.
Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia said the result of the study will serve as their input to lawmakers, who are now considering crafting a law to reform the said policy.
“We can study if it is being abused and determine the position of Comelec to be submitted to Congress,” Garcia said in a press conference last week.
Last December, Sen. Leila M. de Lima filed a bill seeking to impose more stringent conditions before a candidate could avail of the withdrawal or substitution process.
Garcia said they are ready to implement whatever law Congress will pass on the said matter.
“We can only do what they want us to implement. We can only contribute to the law they will make,” Garcia said.
Election watchdogs criticized the said policy, which, they claimed, is being abused by some candidates to keep their candidacy hidden from the public as long as possible to avoid immediate scrutiny.
The Comelec earlier said it is against the abolition of the withdrawal and substitution process for candidates.
Instead, the Comelec urges lawmakers to just introduce additional conditions for candidates to qualify for a withdrawal or substitution.