MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will study recent Supreme Court rulings defining who may be considered a nuisance candidate.

In an interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized the need to examine the High Court’s decisions carefully, noting that the rulings limit the grounds for declaring a candidate as nuisance.

“Comelec needs to study these SC decisions carefully because the SC has already made many decisions on nuisance candidates,” Garcia said.

He explained that candidates cannot automatically be declared nuisance simply because they lack a political party, received few votes in previous elections, have limited campaign funds, or share similar nicknames with other candidates.

“For example, an aspirant cannot be declared as nuisance, if he/she has no political party, low votes obtained in the previous election, no money or funds (to finance a national campaign), similar nicknames. There are now fewer ways or reasons on how to declare nuisance candidates,” Garcia added.

He assured that Comelec will comply with the High Court’s rulings.

“We will abide by what the Supreme Court said because it is the law and must be followed. Comelec should implement it,” he said.

Garcia added that while there is still a law allowing Comelec to declare a nuisance candidate, the commission will carefully identify the proper basis to act.

The statements follow a Supreme Court decision earlier this week that ruled a candidate’s nickname similarity to another candidate in a previous election is not sufficient reason to declare them a nuisance.

The ruling came from the petition of Charles “DB” Savellano, whose certificate of candidacy for representative of the 1st District of Ilocos Sur was previously cancelled by Comelec during the 2025 elections. Savellano had been declared a nuisance candidate after a petition from then-candidate Ronald Singson, who ultimately won the election. The Supreme Court, in an en banc decision promulgated on November 11, 2025, ordered the reinstatement of Savellano’s certificate of candidacy.