MANILA – With the period for filing of certificate of candidacy just around the corner, the Commission on Elections issued a reminder to appointed officials planning to run.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Thursday said appointed government officials who will file a COC for party-list nomination will not be deemed resigned when they hand in their documents. 

"Nagkaroon kami ng resolusyon kahapon lamang na sinasabi na yung mga nominado sa party-list, pagka file nila ng nomination nila sa October 1 to 8, hindi sila deemed resigned. Pero pag dating ng February 11 ng 2025, yung start ng campaign period para sa senador at party-list, sila ay deemed resigned sa lahat ng appointive position na kanilang hinahawakan," he explained.

Garcia cited a Supreme Court ruling that said the nominees are not the ones vying for a seat, but the party-list itself.

But for those running for other positions like senator or mayor, the poll body chief said the rule on their immediate resignation applies. 

"Pagka-file na pagkafile ng candidacy ay deemed resigned yong appointive official na yan sa kanyang posisyon. Hindi kinailangang magresign o sumulat, deemed resigned yon automatically nakalagay po sa guidelines natin yan," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Thursday. 

Under Section 44 of Comelec Resolution No. 11045, "Any person holding a public appointive office or position including active members of the AFP, and other officers and employees in government-owned or-controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso resigned from the office and must vacate the office at the start of the regular office hours of the day when facto the aspirant filed the COC." 

Earlier in the day, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos announced his senatorial bid in the 2025 national and local elections.

Abalos was among the 12 individuals named in the senatorial lineup of the Marcos administration at the Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas event in Pasay City.

Meantime, Garcia said they cannot refuse the certificate of candidacy of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, should she decide to run again in the upcoming polls.

Guo said at the House Quad Committee hearing she has yet to decide on the matter.

"Tatanggapin po namin yan sapagkat ang duty namin tagatanggap lang po kami. Wala po kaming karapatang tumanggi o magrefuse ng filing ng certificate of candidacy ng magfifile from October 1 to 8," Garcia said. 

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Guo from service after she was found guilty of grave misconduct.

Penalties include the disqualification to reenter government service. 

"Kung makakatakbo ibang usapan na po yun. Kung makakasama ang pangalan sa balota, ibang usapan na po yun. Hindi ko pa po masasagot ang katanungan sapagkat titingnan natin yung mga circumstances sa bawat magfifile ng candidacy," he explained.

Garcia added, they have a resolution wherein they may cancel the COC of individuals who have been perpetually disqualified unless they get a temporary restraining order.  

Guo faces charges for graft, money laundering and qualified human trafficking.