COMELEC exec: Candidates should post bond before running

By Minka Klaudia Tiangco

A Commission on Elections (COMELEC) official proposed that candidates should post a bond upon filing their certificates of candidacy to lessen election violations during campaign period.

For every election offense that the candidates commit, deductions will be taken off their bonds, said Commissioner Rowena Guanzon in a radio interview with DZRH News.

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon (PHOTO COURTESY OF ROWENA GUANZON / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)

“I will propose to the Commission en banc that the candidates will post a bond na kapag mag-violate ka ng election rule, bawas lang diyan sa bond mo, bawas ng bawas (that if you violate an election rule, we will deduct from your bond, we will keep on deducting),” Guanzon said.

The poll officer said those who will not be able to post a bond will be dismissed as nuisance candidates.

“’Paano naman ‘yung mga walang pera mag-bond?’ Baket ka naman tumatakbo na wala kang pera? Eh ‘di nuisance ka (‘How about those who do not have money to post a bond?’ Why are you even running if you don’t have money? Then you’re a nuisance candidate),” she said.

“You’re not capable of running a nationwide campaign. Eh di nuisance ka nga (Then you’re a nuisance candidate).”

The COMELEC has launched a crackdown on campaign posters that violate the 2’ x 3’-size set by the commission.

Posters promoting products and radio programs where the candidate is shown are also being taken down, Guanzon said.

“In truth, we can’t file cases against everyone who violated the rules on the first day. Because on February 12, so many of them committed violations, almost all of them. Only those who could not afford posters did not commit violations,” she said.

All the posters that are being taken down by the COMELEC are being kept in the commission’s inventory.

“Lahat nalang po diyan na na-mark, kakasuhan nalang po namin kayo (All of the candidates who were marked, we will file cases against you),” she said.

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