Comelec welcomes complaints vs dynasties

March 8, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) welcomed yesterday complaints regarding political dynasties, emphasizing that such filings would provide an opportunity to address ongoing concerns about political families dominating the electoral landscape.

In an interview with The STAR’s online show “Truth on the Line,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said these complaints would help clarify the legal “gray areas” surrounding political dynasties, which continue to arise in election cycles.?

Garcia also noted that a rival candidate may file a complaint against an opponent’s political dynasty.?

“A disqualification case or cancellation of candidacy can be filed by any registered voter or a rival candidate,” the Comelec chief said.?

He gave assurance that the commission would act swiftly on any petition.

“We hope that we can later on act on (cases) on the issue of merit, which can later on be brought to the Supreme Court (SC),” Garcia said.?

Regarding the Tulfo case, Garcia mentioned that it could still be refiled if the petitioner submits the necessary documents.

If a ruling is made and it is later determined that there was grave abuse of discretion, the case will be elevated to the SC, which can then address the political dynasty issue.

“We are not afraid of being tagged as committing grave abuse of discretion because there is a need to settle gray areas. There is a need that before the 2028 presidential elections, that issue (of political dynasty) should be settled,” Garcia noted.

He added: “If there is no legislation, Comelec will do something that will be the basis therefore of the Supreme Court to interpret if the Comelec is at fault so that it will serve as our guide in other cases similarly situated to the case that will be brought to the SC.”

Lawyer Virgilio Garcia had previously filed a formal petition seeking to disqualify ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo from his Senate run, reelectionist Quezon City and ACT-CIS Reps. Ralph Wendel Tulfo and Jocelyn Tulfo, Turismo party-list first nominee Wanda Tulfo-Teo and senatorial candidate Ben Tulfo.

He argued that their candidacies constitute a political dynasty, which is prohibited under the Constitution.?

This petition was dismissed by the Comelec on a technicality, as the petitioner failed to submit the necessary attachment required for the commission to assume jurisdiction and proceed with evaluating the merits of the case.

The full interview of Truth on the Line with Garcia will be out tomorrow.

Rice exemption

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. submitted a letter to the Comelec, requesting an exemption from the election-related ban on the sale of National Food Authority (NFA) rice to local government units.

The letter, submitted on Feb. 24, follows Garcia’s statement that no official request had been received from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the DA, under a food security emergency, is authorized to sell NFA rice buffer stocks in areas facing supply shortages or price hikes.

The request seeks Comelec approval to allow DA-Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) to sell NFA rice to LGUs at P33 per kilo, enabling them to resell it at P35 per kilo.

Tiu Laurel noted that LGUs could purchase rice through credit arrangements with FTI.

NFA administrator Larry Lacson urged LGUs to hasten rice withdrawals, while DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa clarified that the credit scheme was an efficiency measure, not desperation. — Bella Cariaso