The PhilStar is reporting on a bill in the Philippines that would force candidates to resign from their current office to run for another one. The objective of the bill is said to prevent incumbents from using government resources to promote their candidacy.

His [Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito] proposal was prompted by the congressional candidacy in the May 2010 elections of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ejercito said.

“Mrs. Arroyo, ignoring warnings that she would demean the presidency, ran for representative in Pampanga’s second district without turning over the seat of power to then Vice President Noli de Castro.”

Makes sense, although it reminds me of a California-style effort at electoral engineering -the kind that never works out.  There have been a lot of good bills in the Filipino Congress that have died, so here’s hoping this one goes somewhere.