THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday called on lawmakers to pass a law providing stronger penalties for nuisance candidates during electoral exercises.
In an interview, Elections chairman George Garcia proposed that “if one is proven to be a nuisance candidate with intentions of meddling the electoral process, we want imprisonment of three to six years, or fine not lower than half a million pesos.”
Garcia also said they want a penalty of perpetual disqualification to nuisance bets.
“There must be perpetual disqualification to hold public office so that we can teach them a lesson,” he said, adding poll body commissioners want stronger sanctions in place to put an end to actions that make a mockery of the elections.
“It is like they are insulting us and mocking the whole process. We should no longer allow these actions,” said Garcia.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec may refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy (COC) if it is shown that the COC was filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters.