The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has until June 30 to address disqualification petitions, according to chairman George Garcia. He said that Task Force Baklas has already filed cases against 50 candidates due to campaign poster and materials violations.
The Comelec has established regulations on the maximum size of campaign materials and the areas where they can be displayed. However, the commission clarified that it does not have the authority to mandate the removal of materials from private property.
“Sinusulatan na lang namin sila na tanggalin ang campaign materials. Ito ang ginawa namin tatlong beses, apat na beses na namin sinabi na pakitanggal naman. Hindi pa rin sumunod kaya napilitan na ang task force na mag-file ng kasong disqualification,” he said.
The cases are currently being raffled to various Comelec divisions for further handling.
Chairman Garcia emphasized that the mere filing of a disqualification petition does not automatically result in the candidate’s disqualification.
The commission will carefully assess each petition based on its merits and the available evidence before making a decision.
“Dapat mabigat ang ebidensya at may merit ang kaso,” he said.
The commission chief announced that he is foreseeing more disqualification petitions from the people on the election day.
“Sa national position, kahit hindi namin madesisyunan kaagad diyan, maaaring ma-proclaim sila, mag-oath sila, magpanumpa, eh diba congressman ka pa lang, pagdating sa June 30,” he said.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body will retain jurisdiction over disqualification cases until June 30.
Comelec earlier stated it can suspend the proclamation of winning candidates in the midterm elections if they have pending disqualification cases, regardless of the grounds.
Garcia explained that this authority includes cases involving issues stemming from campaign rallies and other election-related offenses.
He clarified that while Comelec oversees these matters during the election period, disputes involving national positions—such as members of the House of Representatives and the Senate—will later be handled by their respective Electoral Tribunals.
Meanwhile, cases involving the president and vice president will fall under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
In addition, Garcia said that the commission is prepared for the conduct of the upcoming midterm polls and have prepared contingency measures prior to the elections.
“Bagamat gusto na naming sabihin na 100 percent ready talaga, kahit naman ngayon nararamdaman na parang relaxed atmosphere kung ikukumpara sa nakaraang halalan. Talaga namang hindi malaman, nagkakandarapa,” he said.
“Napakaimportante ng planned ahead. Therefore, kahit may kaunting dipirensya man, may sufficient time, pwedeng gawan ng paraan,” he added.