Sotto on bill seeking to penalize nuisance bets: Maybe on 3rd strike

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday said penalties should be imposed not on all nuisance candidates, but only those who have repeatedly made a mockery of the elections.

Sotto made the pronouncement following a suggestion from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian's Senate Bill 911, seeking penalties for nuisance candidates during elections.

Gatchalian's proposal had already been thumbed down by  Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon who argued that sanctioning nuisance candidates might discourage underprivileged aspirants from seeking electoral posts in government.

During an interview on dwIZ, Sotto said he was still divided on the issue. As far as he was concerned, the Senate President said he would be in favor of imposing penalties on nuisance candidates, but only on the third offense.

"Nagtatalo ang damdamin ko dyan pero puwede 'yan siguro kung strike three. Strike three na, bigyan naman natin ng gano'n," Sotto said.

Taking into consideration Guanzon's stance, the Senate President said, "Kasi baka makatyempo ka ng sinasabi ni Commissioner Guanzon, eh kawawa naman ang nag-file, eh mahirap lang. Na-disqualify dahil walang capacity, 'di ba?"

In any case, Sotto emphasized that it should the Comelec who will decide whether or not an aspirant is considered as a nuisance candidate.

"Basta ang importante du'n sa pino-propose ni Sherwin, na sa kamay pa rin ng Comelec kung sinong magsasabing nuisance candidate. Hindi puwedeng ilagay sa mata. 'Yung Comelec mismo," he said.

"Kailangan 'yung mga dini-disqualify dahil classification nila buisance candidate, oh di nakalista ka na. Sumunod na eleksyon, nag-file ka na naman, di ba? Na-disqualify ka nanaman. Sa pangatlo, puwedeng 'wag ka nang tanggapin," he added.

When asked whether he thinks nuisance candidates should be fined, Sotto said he found it "debatable" and preferred the violator to only be barred from filing his COC.

"Debatable pa ang pag-multahin, pero 'yung 'wag ka nang tanggapin. Siguro, mas madali yun. Mas katanggap-tanggap sa mga kababayan natin 'yun kaysa sa pagmultahin," he said.

Nevertheless, the Senate President clarified he has yet to discuss the bill with Senator Gatchalian, but also sees the "other side of the coin."

"Ewan ko. Tignan natin. Baka naman makumbinsi ako ni Sherwin o baka siya ang makumbinsi ko," Sotto said. — MDM, GMA News