Comelec: Nobody sought DQ of Tarlac mayor

He said Guo filed her application to be a registered voter in April 2021, more than a year ahead of the May 2022 polls. (File Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB via PNA)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said nobody filed a disqualification case against embattled Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia made the clarification after senators and netizens raised doubts over how Guo was able to run for a local post, amid questions on her nationality and her alleged links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

“Nakalagay din po sa batas at sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema, walang power ang Comelec mag-motu proprio mag-disqualify ng (The law and a Supreme Court decision says the Comelec has no power to motu proprio disqualify a) candidate based on age, citizenship, residency, registration as a voter and literacy or ability to read and write,” Garcia said in a Radyo5 interview.

He said Guo filed her application to be a registered voter in April 2021, more than a year ahead of the May 2022 polls.

“Our law says if you just submit a government-issued ID, you can be a registered voter unless somebody questions or opposes your application.

Nobody questioned or opposed her application so she became a registered voter,” he said.

He said there has to be a complainant in a disqualification case against a candidate based on these qualifications.

“At may filing period po ‘yun 25 araw, pagka-file ng candidacy. Pag walang nag-file, hindi na po pwedeng file-an ng disqualification o ‘yung tinatawag na cancellation of candidacy (It also has a prescribed period, 25 days after the filing of candidacy. If nobody filed, the filing of disqualification or cancellation of candidacy will not be allowed anymore),” Garcia said.

He said natural-born or naturalized Filipinos are allowed to seek local positions.

Meanwhile, national positions such as president, vice president and senators are limited to natural born Filipinos only.

Candidates for local posts must also be at least 21 years old, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the place for at least one year in the area where he/she is seeking to be elected.

“Ang role ng Comelec ay ministerial lamang (The Comelec’s role is only ministerial), as long as accomplished lahat ng blangko sa Certificate of Candidacy (COC) ia-accept namin (as long as all blanks in the Certificate of Candidacy are accomplished, we will accept them), as long as under oath. Wala kaming discretion na i-refuse (We do not have the discretion to refuse),” Garcia said.