THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has changed its rules regarding party-list nominees holding public office.
In Resolution No. 11065, the Comelec en banc stated that individuals in appointive positions nominated by a party-list group for the May 2025 elections must resign from their positions at the start of the campaign period.
“Nominees holding appointive offices, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and employees in government-owned or controlled corporations, shall be considered resigned from their office,” the resolution stated.
Previously, the Comelec allowed nominees to remain in their positions even after accepting their party-list nomination.
However, the recent change follows a petition by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, challenging Comelec Resolution No. 11045 in the Supreme Court.
Macalintal stated that the 1987 Constitution prohibits civil service employees from engaging in electioneering or partisan political activity.
The period for filing the Certificate of Nomination and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CON-CAN) for party-list groups is set from October 1 to 8, while the campaign for national positions, including senators and party-list groups, will begin on February 11, 2025.
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