Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will now require candidates with foreign citizenship to show proof of renunciation upon filing of their certificates of candidacy (COC).
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said in a press conference on Monday (October 12) that applicants are therefore required to attach proof of renunciation upon filing of their COCs.
“Kung ikaw ay isang kandidato, e kailangan ipakita mo na renounced mo na ang iyong foreign citizenship,” Bautista said.
Bautista said, once they come up with the final list of the official candidates, they will post the COCs of candidates in the Comelec website for the public’s perusal.
“In the next weeks we will sort out kung sino ang mga nuisance candidates… December 10 kailangan ma-finalize ang list of official candidates,” he added.
Bautista distanced from making statements in connection to independent presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe’s citizenship issue. According to the Comelec chair, everyone should await for the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).
“There’s no final decision yet when it comes to Sen. Poe’s citizenship case.”
But Bautista said, even if SET comes up with a decision on Poe’s case, “Any decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court.”
