Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia is encouraging Congress to pass a law authorizing them to check the documents submitted by people who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC).
As reported by DZRH's Boy Gonzales on Wednesday, Garcia said Comelec's existing role is limited to accepting the certificates of candidacies (COCs), even when the information they provide may not be accurate.
Under the aforementioned process, the Comelec only requires those who want to run for office to file a COC that is under the law.
As long as those who pass the COC are Filipino citizens, when it comes to local elections, Garcia stressed that they may be foreign nationals who have become naturalized Filipino citizens.
Garcia said that those who passed the COC will be ignored only if a registered voter files a disqualification or cancellation of candidacy.
The chairman's statement follows the hearing on the citizenship issue of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, related to the operation of the Philippine Overseas Gaming Offices (Pogo) in their town.
Garcia noted that they will abide by and carry out whatever decision made by Congress.
On Tuesday, Comelec submitted to the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality the COC and Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Bamban mayor.
