Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and Comelec chairman George Garcia. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Filipino voters must take their vote seriously, and this should start by thoroughly checking the qualifications of every candidate, Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia said Thursday.

READ: Comelec suggests quo warranto case vs mayor with citizenship issue 

Garcia issued the reminder amid questions on the citizenship and alleged POGO ties of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is now the subject of a Senate investigation.

Guo’s qualifications took center stage in a recent Senate hearing due to her failure to answer simple questions like the name of her former teacher, their previous home address, among others.

For acquaintances, Mayor Alice Guo a 'good person', 'long-time resident'

With aspirants set to file their certificates of candidacy in October, Garcia said what voters should do is to be conscious in checking their qualifications and personal details such as the following:

• age

• citizenship

• is the candidate a resident in that area for at least one year

• voter registration

• literacy

“Kung may mga interesadong kwestyunin 'yung eligibility o qualification nung mga kandidatong iyon, maganda pong mai-file. May period po 'yun, 25 days after the filing of the candidacy,” Garcia stressed.

(If there are interested parties who would want to question the eligibility or qualification of a candidate, you can file it 25 days after that aspirant filed his/her candidacy)

“Pwede po naming tingnan kung talagang citizen. Kasama po 'yun sa kapangyarihan ng Comelec basta may mag-file ng disqualification,” he added.

(We in the Comelec can check the citizenship provided that someone filed a disqualification case against that candidate.)

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A late discovery of any violation can still be questioned through the Office of the Solicitor General, Garcia said.

“Kung tapos na ang mga period, meron po tayong tinatawag na quo warranto petition. Pagka po gusto nyong kwestyunin yung eligibility nung mismong nakaupo, appointed man o elected, pwede pa rin po kayong mag-file ng quo warranto. Kaya lang, ang Solicitor General na po ang magpa-file ng petisyon,” Garcia explained.

Comelec says no petition of protest or quo warranto petition vs Bamban mayor

Garcia earlier said the Comelec did not receive any petition questioning the qualifications of Guo.

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