By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said candidates who are still unsure on running in the May 2019 mid-term polls have until Thursday to back out and have a substitute.
“The deadline for the substitution of an official candidate of a political party, who withdrew, died, or was disqualified by final judgment is on November 29,” the poll body said.
It added that no substitution due to withdrawal shall be allowed after the said date.
The Comelec, however, noted that substitution is allowed until midday of May 13, 2019, if candidate who died or was disqualified by final judgment, by someone who bears the same surname.
An independent candidate is not allowed to be substituted.
The poll body said the deadline was set for the name of the substitute candidate to be included in the official ballots.
The Comelec is looking to start the printing of official ballots for the upcoming polls January next year.
