MANILA — The Commission on Elections has reduced the period that allows the withdrawal of Certificate of Candidacy, and the filing of substitute candidates for the 2025 elections.

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, this is to prevent political groups from taking advantage and fool people on who their real candidate is.

The Comelec is only looking at up to October 8 for an aspirant to file his or her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) as a substitute candidate.

“Simula October 1 to 8, ‘yan, ‘yung filing of candidacy, papayagan naming mag-withdraw ka, pwede kang palitan. Pero after ng (October) 8, wala nang palitan ng candidacy. ‘Wag na nating pinagbobobola (ang) sambayanan,” Garcia said during Friday’s Voter Education and Registration Fair briefing at Guimaras State University.

(The filing of candidacy is from October 1 to 8. We will allow you to withdraw and be replaced during that period. But after October 8, you can no longer change your candidate. Let us stop fooling the people.)

In the 2022 elections, Lakas-CMD candidate Lyle Uy withdrew after then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte decided to run for the vice presidency.

Six years before this, candidate Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidential aspirant post for PDP-Laban, which was initially occupied by former barangay chairman Martin Diño, who withdrew his candidacy.

In the 2022 elections, the Comelec recorded 10 substitute candidates, and 15 aspirants who withdrew their COCs between October 9 to November 15, 2021.

Among those who withdrew their COC were Senator Christopher Go who withdrew his COC as a vice presidential bet, in favor of a presidential bid.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa also withdrew his COC as a presidential aspirant.

In the senatorial slate,  those who withdrew their COC were broadcaster Noli de Castro who was replaced by lawyer Jopet Sison and former television reporter Paolo Capino who was replaced by former Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar.

“Dapat kung sino ang kakandidato, harap-harapan na. I-file nyo na yung candidacy nyo. Huwag na yung kunwari naka-front ka sa ganyan, 'yun pala ikaw pala ang kakandidato,” Garcia said.

(The real candidate should immediately file the candidacy. Let’s stop projecting that you’re into something. Only to be revealed in the end that you are the candidate.)

Garcia said they will no longer allow substitution after the October 8 filing period.

The Commission will only allow substitution after October 8, in the case of death or disqualification of a candidate, Garcia said.