Comelec mulls requiring 10 nominees, zero substitution for party-list groups

AS part of continued efforts to prevent abuses in the system, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now looking at requiring all party-list organizations participating in the May 2025 polls to submit a list of 10 nominees.

Comelec chief George Garcia said they are looking at outlawing any substitution of party-list nominees similar to candidates in the national and local candidates.

“One of the possibilities we are considering is we will require the submission of 10 names for every party list or organization instead of only five nominees,” said Garcia.

“However, when they submit the 10 names, we will no longer allow substitutions. We will refuse to accept (substitute nominees),” he added.

The poll chief said he believes such a scheme is feasible since having an abundance of nominees will make it unnecessary to field substitutes.

“It is highly unlikely that all 10 will die, that all 10 will get sick, and all 10 will have excuses… We will require 10 so that there will be somebody sure to be left on the list and that fielding 10 new nominees will be unnecessary,” said Garcia.

He also said that adopting such a policy is necessary since they will also adopt a “no substitution due to withdrawal” policy for national and local candidates.

“It is just right to impose a substitution ban when it comes to party lists so that it will be fair to all,” said Garcia.

Controversies surrounded the substitution of nominees of party-list organizations in past polls.

Some party lists opt to field an entirely new set of nominees in the middle of the campaign period or before Election Day after the withdrawal of their initial set of nominees.

The proposal comes after the Comelec en banc approved the proposal to reduce the period of filing substitution of candidates due to withdrawals, in this case from October 1 to 8.