Withdrawal and substitution of political candidates
Substitution of candidates is allowed under the Omnibus Election Code, but it had been abused by some politicians.
What they do is withdraw the certificate of candidacy of one belonging to a political party then shift to another party to substitute for one of this party who withdraws.
The Commission on Elections should look into this practice and declare those engaged in substitution who were just placeholders and never serious about their candidacy as nuisance candidates.
Substitution has become a political maneuver of the rich and powerful. Only death, incapacity and disqualification should be the basis to allow withdrawal of candidacy and substitution.
Politicians were given ample time to think and decide which party to belong and what position to aspire.
There ought to be electoral reforms and to set the qualifications of a candidate to a certain position in terms of educational attainment and profession, experiences and achievements, socio-economic involvement, environmental concern, and morality as a way of screening aspirants and choosing those more capable for public service. — PERCIVAL B. ALIPIT, Baguio City