The Commission on Elections (Comelec) vowed to study the recent rulings of the Supreme Court on nuisance candidates.
In an interview, Comelec chairperson George Garcia noted that they have to scrutinize the High Court ruling on “who are not really serious in running for public office.”
“Comelec needs to study these SC decisions carefully because the SC has already made many decisions on nuisance candidates,” he said.
“For example, an aspirant cannot be declared as nuisance, if he/she has no political party, low votes obtained in the previous election, no money or funds (to finance a national campaign), similar nicknames. There are now fewer ways or reasons on how to declare nuisance candidates,” Garcia added.
At the same time, Garcia said they will follow the ruling of the High Tribunal.
“We will abide by what the Supreme Court said because it is the law and must be followed. Comelec should implement it,” he added, saying that there is a law that allows them to declare a nuisance bet.
“There is still a law for the Comelec to declare a nuisance, we just need to find out what other move there is for us to act as a basis to declare a candidate a nuisance,” Garcia said.
Early this week, the SC ruled that a candidate’s nickname similar to another candidate in a previous election is not enough basis for declaring the individual a nuisance bet.
During the 2025 elections, the Commission on Elections cancelled the COC of Savellano and declared him a nuisance candidate.
In an en banc decision promulgated on Nov. 11, 2025, the SC granted the petition of Charles “DB” Savellano and ordered the reinstatement of his certificate of candidacy as representative of the 1st District of Ilocos Sur.
During the 2025 elections, the poll body cancelled Savellano’s COC and declared him a nuisance candidate.
The petition was filed by then-candidate Ronald Singson who won in the elections. (PNA)