Comelec to candidates: Stick to deadline

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections in the city is calling on those interested to run in next year’s polls to fulfill all requirements on time to avoid hitches.

City election officer Marchel Sarno said the failure of candidates to fulfill the requirements in filing the Certificate of Candidacy is oftentimes the reason why they become ineligible to run.

Anyone interested to run must file five notarized copies of the COC with a 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 ID picture. If a candidate is nominated by a political party, a certificate of nomination must be attached to the COC. All COCs must be received by the Comelec office.

Sarno emphasized that his office will not accept COCs that lack the necessary requirements and that he will not give even a minute of extension when the deadline lapses.

“Dili gyud nato dawaton. Mao nay naka-disadvantage kung last minute kang mo-file pero kung sayo kang muduso sa COC, duna pa kay time pag-correct,” Sarno said.

The Comelec started accepting COCs last November 20 and will continue to do so until midnight of December 1.

So far, two independent candidates filed their COCs last week, the first was whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra who is running for mayor. Businessman Nestor Legaspi also filed his COC for a shot at the City Council.

Former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña who expressed his intent to run for mayor will reportedly file his COC on Saturday while Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s sister, Georgia, who is also interested for the position, disclosed she will file her COC by Tuesday next week.

Osmeña’s political group, the Bando Osmeña- Pundok Kauswagan, may file its candidates’ COCs next week while the opposition group has not announced a date just yet. - Elly T. Bolonos/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)