No More Nuisance Candidates?

It's election season again. The first step in the 2025 elections is the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy. Lot's of people want in on the government gravy train. However, in the past it has not been so easy for the little guy to attempt a run for office without being disqualified for being a nuisance candidate. That is now a thing of the past. Perhaps. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/2/comelec-in-a-tight-spot

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) finds itself in a tight spot when it comes to which election candidates should be declared as "nuisance".

This, after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the unpopularity of a candidate, or non-membership in a political party, as well as the lack of financial capacity to run a campaign, were not sufficient grounds to declare one a nuisance candidate.

"Although our chances of getting an opportunity to appeal for a declaration of disqualification as a nuisance candidate in the law department are limited, we still have two other options to determine if you're a bona fide candidate," Comelec spokesman lawyer John Rex Laudiangco told the media during the second day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).

Many of the perennial poll aspirants who have so far filed their COC for senator have criticized Comelec for disqualifying them due to their lack of financial capacity or for being not well-known. 

With these two factors out of the picture, Laudiangco said that they will observe the aspirants during the filing to check their actions, or to find out if they know what they're running for.

"You may be running for senator, but the job you're referring to doesn't quite suit that of a senator. Perhaps there's a lack of full understanding of the position involved," he said.

The other thing Comelec is looking at is those who filed their COCs only to disrupt or confuse the voting public in an attempt to get votes at someone else's expense.

Laudiangco assured the public that they'll make a factual assessment to establish that someone does not have a bona fide intention for the position they're running for.

"Because we can see that, if he or she is really serious or if he or she just wants to be seen filing a COC, getting photographed, being on TV, because there are people like that," he added.

No longer is lack of membership in a political party or lack of financial capacity enough to consider someone a nuisance candidate. Instead the COMELEC will be looking at a would-be candidates actions and checking to see if they know what they have even filed for. 

How is that fair? All the candidates make big promises that exceed the office for which they aspire. Are we really supposed to believe the clowns who are actually in office understand their own office? 

This new doctrine from the Supreme Court could shake things up at the polls. I wouldn't expect the media to cover any so-called nuisance candidates in an honest or comprehensive way but at least it won't be the same-old, same-old. 

Take Eric Negapatan who has tried to run for office thrice and has been declared a nuisance each time. He wants to return the Marcos wealth to the Filipino people. Turns out it was actually willed to him by Marcos Sr's mom when he was her servant. 

https://www.inquirer.net/414924/senatorial-aspirant-vows-to-return-marcoses-alleged-p800-quadrillion-wealth/

A senatorial aspirant on Wednesday vowed to bring back the alleged wealth of the Marcos family, reportedly amounting to “800 quadrillion pesos” for the benefit of all Filipinos.

Eric Negapatan made the campaign pitch, which resembled the debunked Tallano Gold claims as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at Manila Hotel Garden City on Wednesday.

Negapatan promised to distribute this amount, supposedly hidden somewhere in London, to all Filipinos for their basic needs.

(No one will need to buy rice anymore. No one will pay for water. No one will pay for electricity anymore.)

He claimed he inherited this “800 quadrillion” from Doña Josefa Marcos, mother of late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when he was her servant in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

(All of this was left in my name. In other words, it was not named after Marcos.)

(If the heir is a Marcos, the PCGG would have confiscated it.)

Negapatan said he previously ran for the presidency in 2016 and 2022 and in the senatorial polls in 2019, but he was declared a nuisance candidate in all these political attempts.

Of course he sounds crazy but why shouldn't he be able to run for office?

Likewise why should the COMELEC forbid the "chosen one of God" from running for the Senate?

https://www.inquirer.net/414985/senatorial-aspirant-to-curse-anyone-who-will-disqualify-her/

Senatorial aspirant Beth Lopez, who claimed to be the “chosen one of God,” on Wednesday said that she would “curse” anyone who would disqualify her from the 2025 elections.

Lopez said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified her in the previous polls due to poverty.

(This is my third time running for senator of our country. So brave. Thick-skinned despite being disqualified by Comelec because of being poor. I apologize for being emotional.)

When asked what she would do if Comelec disqualified her again, the teary-eyed senatorial aspirant raised her voice at the end of her answer.

(If Comelec does not allow me to run for senator, everyone who is involved in my disqualification will be cursed, and I will declare this government agency as nonsense.)

A Comelec official then went up to the stage to calm her down. She smiled and said that she was just being “emotional.”

Lopez also claimed that she is the “chosen one of God.”

(I hate politics. Now, who made a way for me to do something I don’t like? God. God made a way for me to not to run for public office.)

(I declare that of all the miracles in my life, I am the chosen one of God. If I die, I will declare that my soul will come back to punish you all.)

Lopez tried to run for senator in the 2019 elections, but she said she was not permitted to enter the Comlelc office to file her certificate of candidacy (COC).

The security forces at Comelec clarified that she was instructed to first secure a copy of the COC application form at the office.

Don't anybody get in her way.

Don't get in the way of this half-zombie either. 

https://www.inquirer.net/415733/rastaman-known-as-half-human-half-zombie-seeks-senate-seat/

Rastaman,” who usually passes himself off as “half-human, half-zombie,” is seeking a Senate seat after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Saturday.

Rolando Plaza in real life, the tattooed-faced character filed his COC at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Plaza previously filed his COC for senator in 2019 but was disqualified after being declared a nuisance candidate.

“Rastaman” gained virality overnight as a result of an interview where he claims to be “half-human, half-zombie.”

Media analytics firm Isentia PH says this man is a joke and the electorate needs such humor during election season. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1516474/coping-mechanism-firm-says-rastaman-popularity-shows-humor-still-vital-to-ph-elections

Prior to COVID-19, the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) is one of the most colorful events in Philippine politics — not just because of rival politicians but due to some “out-of-this-world aspirants” often branded as nuisance candidates.

With lockdowns still present, Filipinos turned to the internet to put some color to an allegedly dull COC filing from October 1 to 8, through the culture of memes and shitposting — which eventually gave way to the resurgence of a person known in social media circles as the “Rastaman.”

It is unclear whether the man is indeed a follower of Rastafarianism, but the rise of this tattooed man deemed as an “alternative candidate” may be the best proof that humorous story lines are still very important for people vying for elective posts, a media analytics firm said.

Isentia PH said in their report titled “Prelude to the Polls” that the seemingly undying popularity of Ronaldo Plaza, the senatorial aspirant in the 2019 midterm elections, can be attributed to a yearning for a funny twist to an otherwise serious political exercise.

Plaza, sporting a bandana and with several tattoos on his face — including the words “Rasta” on his forehead, nose and upper lip and the word “Man” on his chin, plus a motorcycle on his temple — became an internet sensation among people supposedly tired of politics.

“A video of him filing his COC from the last elections, accompanied by an interview, resurfaced this period. Netizens began posting memes giving him their ironic support and earning traction across social media platforms. Rastaman gained virality overnight as a result of an interview wherein claims to be ‘half-human, half-zombie,’” Isentia PH said.

“His popularity may be attributed to Filipinos finding humor in the candidate amidst the seriousness of the election season,” it added.

According to Isentia PH, the Filipinos’ desire for some laughs may be an attempt to hide a great frustration over what has happened in the country — from the issues on the COVID-19 pandemic response and the effects of lockdown restrictions.

“The period leading to the polls has been marred with an overall sense of frustration in the middle of the pandemic, and the internet gave Rastaman a platform and his persona has ensued popularity because of a ‘comforting absurdity’ — a key element in getting audience’s attention,” the firm said.

“As the internet shifted from memes to serious conversations, a swing of emotions and sentiment could come from various factors especially with news coming the public’s way daily. Rastaman’s popularity is a clear showing of how important humor is to storytelling, messaging, narrative, public relations, leading to a comforting nature that drives engagement,” it added.

Now with the SC ruling he will have to be taken seriously. What's wrong with that?

What about the common man? An electrician wants to run for office and why shouldn't he? Why should the political class only be composed of well connected monied families? 

https://www.inquirer.net/414472/electrician-man-who-wants-to-marry-sen-marcos-to-run-for-senator/

An electrician and a man claiming to be Sen. Imee Marcos’ fiance said they would run for senator in the 2025 elections.

Alexander Encarnacion, an electrician and a carpenter, lodged his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday, the first day of COC filing.

(An electrician and carpenter can do many things for the country.)

Encarnacion said he filed COC in two previous elections but was disqualified as a nuisance candidate.

(I am penniless. They said I can’t launch a nationwide campaign.)

Daniel Magtira, who said he wanted to marry Marcos, also went to the COC filing venue at the Manila Hotel tent, but he has yet to lodge his COC as of posting.

In 2021, he also claimed to be the husband of actress and host Kris Aquino.

(I don’t know where Kris Aquino is, so I’ll just marry Imee Marcos.)

Pressed to disclose his plans should he win a Senate seat, Magtira said: “Let us implement the promise of salary increase.”

In 2021, he also filed a COC for president for the 2022 elections.

Magtira was alone when he faced the media on Tuesday. He was wearing a blue-green barong and a pin bearing the Philippine flag.

The man who wants to marry Imee Marcos may not be in his right mind but why stop the common laboring man from aspiring to do great things for his country? Don't forget men like Bato and Robinhood Padilla are in office. Both of them had no political training and only won because of their popularity.

The case of those two men illustrate the problem with elections in the Philippines. The COMELEC decides who can and cannot run and the people are forced to choose between who is left over. How exactly can voters be vigilant when so many unqualified men are on the ballot?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234745

House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday urged Filipino voters to “practice discernment” and exercise “perpetual vigilance” in choosing candidates for next year’s midterm elections, or suffer the consequences of more “Alice Guos” in the country’s electoral system.

“To the Filipino voters, I encourage you to exercise your right with discernment. Your role is crucial in this process. By remaining vigilant, we ensure a future where our leaders uphold the values of integrity, competence, and a commitment to the well-being of our nation,” Romualdez said in a statement as the filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) for the May 2025 senatorial and synchronized local polls entered its fourth day.

He said the classic case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, a certified Chinese national, should be a constant reminder to everyone to practice increased vigilance or face similar embarrassing consequences.

“The recent disqualification of Guo is a significant reminder of our challenges in ensuring that only qualified individuals are elected to public office. The Comelec (Commission on Elections) is crucial in accepting candidacy applications,” he said.

Romualdez appealed to the Comelec, under the leadership of Chairman George Garcia, that while the processing of COCs may be “ministerial” in nature, it is still important they safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

“The law provides transparent processes for challenging unqualified candidates, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that these mechanisms are used appropriately to maintain public trust. We all share the responsibility of safeguarding our democracy, and by working together, we can prevent any recurrence of past issues,” he said.

“Together, let us build a government that truly reflects the aspirations of the Filipino people – one that is transparent, accountable, and dedicated to genuine public service,” he said, noting that voters should always bear in mind that by choosing right, “we get the government we deserve.”

Romualdez's advice is well-intentioned but does not take into consideration the reality that voters do not choose who is on the ballot. In local elections the number of choices are usually low. Sometimes there is only one candidate. How can the people be discerning when the COMELEC allows suspended politicians to run for office merely because their suspension is not final?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234695

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here said the suspended board members of Antique province can still file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) and run for the 2025 midterm elections.

“The preventive suspension of the board members is not a problem or a ground for their disqualification because it is not yet a final decision from the Ombudsman,” said Acting Assistant Regional Election Director and concurrent Antique Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceño in an interview on Thursday.

He said that the Comelec, since the first day of the filing on Oct. 1, has been receiving COCs of suspended board members, citing, as the basis, Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Suspended board members Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao, Egidio Elio, Alfie Jay Niquia, and Plaridel Sanchez IV filed their COCs on Oct. 1.  Ladislao is running for vice governor, while Elio, Niquia, and Sanchez IV are seeking reelection.

They were slapped with a six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman effective Aug. 5, 2024, pending the hearing of their administrative cases for oppression, grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and gross neglect of duty.  

Perhaps the Ombudsman should act more quickly on these matters. Or perhaps the COMELEC should change its rules so that suspended politicians are not allowed to run no matter what.

And what about self-confessed criminals?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234603

Self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor of his hometown, Albuera in Leyte province, the same post held by his slain father.

In a social media post by his official Facebook page, “Care Win," Espinosa was seen holding a copy of his COC filed on Oct. 1. 

He also posted photos and videos of his supporters who accompanied him in the COC filing. Joining him are candidates under the Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban (BE-PK) party.

Supporters of the Espinosa camp were seen wearing blue shirts with BE-PK prints distributed during the first day of filing.

“I am running to help those who are oppressed regardless of your age and economic status,” he told the cheering supporters.

He is reportedly running against incumbent Mayor Sixto Dela Victoria.

Kerwin was released from jail after the Regional Trial Court in Baybay City junked a case against him for lack of evidence.

In 2016, he was one of the personalities linked by then President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade in Eastern Visayas.

Duterte accused Espinosa and his father, Rolando Espinosa, Sr., then mayor of Albuera, of their involvement in the narcotics trade after a police raid that found PHP11 million worth of shabu near the family’s residence in Albuera town.

The elder Espinosa surrendered in mid-2016 but was later killed inside his jail cell in Baybay City.

Sure, Espinosa was found not guilty but that's not the point. The point is the COMELEC is allowed to decide who can and cannot run. When the people have to choose between a self-confessed criminal and someone equally worthless what are they to do? Not vote? 

The Supreme Court decision to allow candidates to run despite their financial ability or membership in a political party is a welcome decision for all. People talk a big game about democracy but denying people the right to run because they are poor is not very democratic. 

Are there nuisance candidates? Of course. The Duterte's, the Marcoses, and practically every political family have had their day in the sun and they have not done a very good job of running the Philippines except into the ground. Why not let the common man have his day in the sun?