Wealth not qualification for candidacy, Comelec insists

MANILA, Philippines — Wealth or the lack of it is not among the qualifications for one to run for an elective post, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) stressed yesterday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said a political aspirant would not be disqualified from running in the elections just because of financial status.

“There have been a good number of past candidates who explicitly declared themselves not wealthy; relied heavily on the support of others. But the existence of such support must be proven, not presumed,” Jimenez posted on his Twitter account. “Comelec doesn’t believe that resources only refers to money.”

Jimenez made the clarification amid questions on the Comelec’s petition to disqualify teacher and lawyer Angelo de Alban from running in the May 2019 senatorial polls.  

“Because I am just a teacher and a lawyer, I am already a nuisance candidate?” De Alban said as he vowed to fight for his candidacy.

The Comelec said De Alban does not have proof of financial capability to sustain the financial rigors of waging a nationwide campaign. Last week, its legal department recommended motu proprio the disqualification of 95 candidates for their incapability to mount a nationwide campaign.

Jimenez explained that the petition of the Comelec law department is an opportunity for each candidate to prove their ability to conduct a national campaign.

The poll body is expected to release on Nov. 19 a tentative list of candidates for next year’s polls. Initially, it would be posted on its website www.comelec.gov.ph and at the offices where the COCs were filed for “purposes of checking the name to appear on the official ballot.”        

Comelec advised those who filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) to check the names that will appear on the ballot.

The posting of the tentative list was supposed to start on Nov. 5, but the poll body reset it due to the resetting of the filing of COC. Candidates were given until Nov. 29 to file a request for correction on the name to appear on the official ballot, while substitute candidates have until Dec. 7 to file a request for correction on the name to appear on the official ballot.        

The final list of candidates will be released by December. 

A total of 152 people filed their COCs for senator while 185 party-list groups have submitted their certificate of nomination and acceptance.