Additional ground, penalties for nuisance bets sought

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos is proposing an additional “ground” for the cancellation of certificates of candidacy (COCs) of nuisance candidates, saying they are “a bane to any electoral system.”

In House Bill 8415, Marcos sought to impose an additional penalty of P50,000 on any person found guilty of committing this election offense.

The measure shall amend the Omnibus Election Code of 1985, which currently imposes a jail term of not more than six years, disqualification from holding public office and suspension of rights of suffrage on any individual convicted of this offense.

The bill’s explanatory note stated that the candidacy of nuisance bets, who are “usually fielded by rival politicians,” are “intended to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates.”

“More often than not, they have no bona fide intention to run for public office, but they have filed their candidacy anyway, simply to derail the political aspiration of opposing politicians,” the bill read.

The measure underscored that whether these candidates “are running for money, profit or any other consideration or not, their mere participation in the electoral race prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.”

In effect, they put the election process in mockery or disrepute, especially so if they accidentally win.

“Much has been said about our country being a democratic state. But being a representative type of democracy (that is, a republic), our people’s only direct and most visible form of democratic participation occurs only during elections,” the bill said.

It also underscored a “compelling need to preserve the integrity of our electoral process.”

The measure aims to “sanction or put a stop to the maleficence of nuisance candidates in trying to pervert our electoral system.”

“For our vibrant democracy to further flourish, we need to restore the sanctity of the ballot, hence, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought,” it further read.