ILOILO CITY: Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he would push for a ban on withdrawals as a basis for substitution after candidates have submitted their certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the 2025 midterm elections.

Speaking in Filipino, Garcia said in a press conference with local media in Guimaras on Friday: "It seems we will no longer allow the substitution of candidates. The filing of CoCs is from October 1 to 8. If you withdraw, we will still allow a change, but after October 8, the substitution will be prohibited."

Garcia said he would make the proposal to the en banc, and "we will pursue it because many of our countrymen say that it is excessive, and substitutions should no longer be allowed."

Comelec rules provide that political parties and coalitions have the option to substitute their nominated candidate in case of his or her death, withdrawal, or disqualification by the Comelec after the filing of the CoC.

"Substitutions due to death or disqualification can be made until midday on election day, provided the substitute candidate shares the same surname. However, for substitutions due to withdrawal, the Comelec will determine the deadline," according to the poll body.

"This substitution right does not extend to independent candidates, as they are not affiliated with any political party," it said.

Garcia said there was no explicit provision in the Comelec rules indicating whether withdrawals were allowed or prohibited after the filing of CoC.

"This means that we can decide not to allow withdrawals as a basis for substitution after the filing of candidacy," Garcia said, still in Filipino.

Garcia also highlighted that some political parties misuse the substitution mechanism by fielding placeholder candidates, causing confusion among Filipino voters.

Meanwhile, Garcia reported that the Comelec has reached around 2.7 million additional voter registrants for the midterm elections.

The registration started on February 12 and will run until Sept. 30, 2024.

The Comelec projected at least 3 million Filipinos to register as voters nationwide during this period.

To reach the goal, the poll body is conducting an education and registration fair to inform voters about their right to suffrage and encourage youth participation.