The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to receive any petition seeking the cancellation of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of congressional aspirant Marvin Dupal-ag for the special election in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia made the clarification about Dupal-ag, who was previously listed by police as Calabarzon’s No. 2 most wanted person before his arrest in 2019.
‘Wala pa tayong natatanggap base sa ating monitoring sa Commission on Elections patungkol sa bagay na iyan,’ Garcia said during a press briefing.
Garcia also noted that Dupal-ag’s status as one of Calabarzon’s most wanted persons referred to a previous period and should not be taken out of context.
He said the absence of a final judgment of conviction means a candidate generally remains qualified to seek public office unless otherwise disqualified by law.
‘Ang lahat ng mga kumakandidatong hangga’t walang final judgment of conviction o perpetual disqualification to hold public office ay makakatakbo,’ Garcia said.
Garcia explained that even a conviction by a lower court does not automatically disqualify a candidate if the decision is still under appeal and has not yet become final.
Dupal-ag was arrested in Toledo City, Cebu in August 2019 after evading authorities for nearly 16 years and was then identified by Police Regional Office-Calabarzon as its No. 2 most wanted person. Authorities said he was facing murder, frustrated murder and carnapping charges.
Police records at the time showed that warrants for his arrest had been issued by the Regional Trial Court in Imus, Cavite in connection with the criminal cases.
Despite those cases, Comelec maintained that questions on a candidate’s eligibility must be resolved based on existing election laws and the status of court proceedings, not merely on pending accusations.
Dupal-ag is among the five candidates seeking to represent Cavite’s Fourth District in the special election that will fill the congressional seat vacated following the expulsion of former Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ Barzaga.
The special election is scheduled on Aug. 29, with the campaign period set from July 30 to Aug. 27.