Senator bats for law against nuisance bets

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian is urging Congress to hasten the passage of a bill which seeks to institutionalize the definition of nuisance candidates and hold them liable for election offenses.

Gatchalian made the call after citing the numerous nuisance candidates who had filed certificates of candidacy for senator for the 2019 midterm elections.

Senate Bill 911 filed by Gatchalian seeks to amend Sections 69, 261, and 269 of the Omnibus Election Code.

He explained that while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is mandated by law to receive certificates of candidacies (COCs) as its ministerial duty, “the onslaught of candidates who do not intend to launch a viable campaign is wasting the precious time and resources of Comelec.”

Under the Gatchalian bill, Comelec may cancel a COC if, after affording due process to the filing party, it finds that said certificate was filed to obtain money, profit, or any other consideration.

Additionally, any person who is found by the Comelec to have filed a COC to mar the process, cause confusion among voters by similarity of the names of the registered candidates; obtain money, profit or any other consideration; or under any other circumstances or acts clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for office, shall be guilty of an election offense and shall face a R50,000 fine or a jail term of one to six years, or both.