BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City — As election fervor ramps up with the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections, this city remains clear of nuisance candidates, a status confirmed by the city’s Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The period for filing COCs is from October 1 to October 8, and it has drawn a mix of seasoned politicians and new faces, all scrutinized for their eligibility and intentions.
In a recent interview, Atty. Pinky Jevini Tentativa, Iloilo City Election Officer IV, explained that the city has never recorded a nuisance candidate in its electoral history.
Nuisance candidates are defined by their actions that mock the electoral process, show a lack of genuine intent to run, or create confusion among voters with misleading names.
“At no point do local Comelec offices have the authority to declare any aspirant as a nuisance,” stated Tentativa.
The offices strictly perform administrative roles, receiving and forwarding COCs to the Comelec Central Office for further assessment.
Tentativa also highlighted the procedural fairness given to all aspirants.
“If a petition is filed against an individual, they are entitled to due process and can present evidence to demonstrate their genuine intent to run,” she said.
She further clarified that an individual is not considered an official candidate until the campaign period officially begins./PN
