Filing of petition against nuisance candidates extended until Oct 16

Commission on Elections. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is extending the deadline for the filing of petition against nuisance candidates from Monday, October 14 to Wednesday, October 16.

Comelec said on Friday that the deadline was extended due to the Malacañang’s suspension of government work and classes in Manila and Pasay on October 14 to 15.

READ: Palace suspends gov’t work, classes in Manila, Pasay on Oct 14-15

“Please take notice that the Commission (En Banc) approved the extension of deadline for the filing of Petitions Against Nuisance Candidates from Monday, October 14 2024 to Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Comelec said in an advisory.

“[I]n view of Comelec Memorandum dated 11 October 2024, in relation to Memorandum Circular No. 66 of the Office of the President on work suspension in the Cities of Manila and Pasay on 14 and 15 October 2024,” it added.

The suspension is in line with the opening of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said on Friday that many have already filed petition against nuisance candidates.

He also said that they are identifying which of the 183 senatorial aspirants can be declared nuisance candidates by exercising their rights.

“Let’s remember that there are ways to declare nuisance candidate: one, an opponent files [the petition]; number two, the Comelec, moto proprio, can declare a nuisance candidate,” Garcia said in Filipino during an ambush interview.

READ: Comelec: Five petitions to cancel candidacy for 2025 polls filed so far

Meanwhile, the poll body chief said that five petitions to disqualify candidacies of local polls aspirants have been filed so far. These aspirants have been previously declared perpetually disqualified to hold public office by the Office of the Ombudsman.