The Comelec has no power to declare as “nuisance candidates” in the May 2016 elections those candidates who, for the first time, failed to file statement of contributions and expenses (SOCE) in 2013 elections or failed to pay the fines it imposed, according to an election lawyer.

These candidates being able to run in the 2013 polls is evident enough that they could not be treated as nuisance candidates, Romulo Macalintal said in a statement on Monday.