Appointive officials deemed resigned upon filing COCs

EDITORIAL

Those holding appointive positions in government are deemed resigned once they file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) next week for the 2016 polls.

“It’s de facto (you are) deemed resigned. Meaning you don’t have to resign, but you are automatically resigned,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez.

Jimenez noted that elected officials could finish their term until June 30, 2016 even if they seek an elective post in the coming local and national elections. 

According to Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Consortium on Electoral Reforms, such policy is provided for in the Constitution to prevent the appointed officials from using their position to boost their candidacy.

At the same time, he said, it would prevent the appointing power from using the appointees in case he is running in the elections. 

“For me what is quite anomalous is the Senate. A senator can run for another position and then go back to the Senate if his term is not yet finished and he loses in the elections,” he said.

He added such is not required among elected officials because it could create a vacuum and there would be no leaders in government. 

Comelec Commissioner Christian Roberto Lim said the poll body is also preparing to file election offense cases against candidates who failed to file Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) for two consecutive elections.  

According to Lim, several candidates have been identified but he refused to release their names.

“We have the so-called two-strike violation. We are just waiting for the publication of the rules and we’ll have to observe the process. We’ll have to file a petition to consider them perpetually disqualified,” he said.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, election offense is punishable with up to six years imprisonment, suspension of the right of suffrage and disqualification from holding public office.

The Comelec has been reviewing the SOCEs filed by winning and losing bets in the 2007, 2010 and 2013 elections to identify the two-time violators.

Lim noted that the Comelec can pursue a case motuproprio “but anybody interested can also file a case.”

To speed up the scrutiny of the SOCEs to be filed in connection to the 2016 election, the Comelec is now requiring candidates to submit hard and soft copies of the document to the agency’s Campaign Finance Office.

He added this would also enable the poll body to compile the reports and publish them online. 

Meanwhile, with barely 18 days left before the Oct. 31 deadline for the registration of voters, the Comelec has asked celebrities to help in the “No Bio, No Boto” campaign.

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, celebrities could help raise awareness about the ongoing voter’s registration. They also rally their supporters to help by spreading the word about the campaign.