Comelec receives 221 nuisance candidate petitions for 2025 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received 221 petitions to declare aspirants as nuisance candidates for the 2025 elections, including 117 filed by the poll body and 104 by others.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia stated that the commission aims to resolve all these cases within November to ensure a final list of candidates and allow for ballot printing by December.

Applicants accused of being nuisance candidates can present their case before the Comelec's divisions and appeal to the en banc.

Garcia emphasized the need to remove nuisance candidates to prevent issues for the Comelec and confusion for voters.

The Omnibus Election Code empowers Comelec to refuse or cancel candidacies of those deemed nuisance candidates to uphold the integrity of the polls.