NAIS ni Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez na magpatupad ng absolute ban sa substitution ng mga kandidato ng mga political party upang maiwasang maging katawa-tawa ang halalan.

“It is lamentable that for the May 2022 elections, certain candidates for the presidency are perceived to be proxies for some personalities, even if they can be considered as serious aspirants,” pahayag ni Rodriguez.

Sinabi ni Rodriguez na dapat nang ipagbawal ang substitution maliban na lang kung ang candidate-nominee ng isang political party ay namatay o na-disqualify bago ang araw ng halalan.

Sa pamamagitan nito ay mas mahaba, aniya, ang oras ng Commission on Elections upang masala ang certificates of candidacy, maihanda ang final list of candidates, at iimprenta ang official ballots at iba pang election paraphernalia.

“If we maintain the present Oct. 8 COC filing deadline, the commission will have an additional time of more than one month to prepare for the elections. Alternatively, we can move the timelines closer to election day like setting Nov. 15 as the close of the COC filing period,” paliwanag ni Rodriguez.

Inirekomenda rin ni Rodriguez ang pagbabalik sa dating regulasyon na nagmamandato sa mga incumbent official na mag-resign o ituring na awtomatikong resigned sa sandaling maghain ng kanilang certificate of candidacy.

Ipinaliwanag ng kongresista na sa pamamagitan nito ay maiiwasang magamit ng isang opisyal ang kanyang public funds para sa sariling interes.

“A candidate would not agree to be a proxy for a dawdling, wavering or indecisive aspirant if he would have to give up his office. The resignation requirement would apply to all levels, national or local, whether aiming for higher or lower positions,” dagdag ni Rodriguez.