Ejercito wants Comelec to vet COCs for bona fide Filipinos

Senator JV Ejercito is urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to rigorously screen certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 election to ensure they are filed by bona fide Filipino citizens.

Ejercito cited the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo as a precedent for his concern about individuals of dubious origins holding local government positions.

He noted that he has encountered local executives in provinces who appear not to have grown up in the Philippines, suggesting they might not be Filipino.

Ejercito believes that Guo's case should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to implement stricter measures against foreign nationals holding public office.

He also highlighted the issue of late birth registrations as a potential loophole that needs to be addressed to prevent the certification of Filipino citizenship for non-Filipinos.

The senator suggested that legislation could be introduced to prevent other nationalities, not just Chinese, from holding positions in government, especially given the current conflict with China.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco stated that the Law Department will meticulously review all COCs, and any nominations exceeding the allowed limit or multiple COC filings by one person will be invalidated.