Bets expected to come late: Filing of COCs to start today

CEBU, Philippines - Aspirants for elective positions come 2016 national and local elections are expected to troop to Commission on Elections offices beginning today with the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) which will run until October 16.

This as Comelec asked would-be candidates to file their COC early and not wait for the deadline to allow time for corrections, if any, on the submitted documents, said Comelec-Cebu Province Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde.

He said everything is already in place for the filing of COCs this week. Comelec offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Wala man ta’y nakitang problema. Andam na ang opisina sa Comelec modawat sa COC,” Gujilde said.

He said a person holding a public appointive position and employee in a government-owned or controlled corporation is automatically considered resigned from office upon filing of the certificate of candidacy.

Would-be candidates will already be required to declare in their COCs if they have renounced foreign citizenship.

This was implemented after Comelec en banc introduced amendments to the form of the COCs through a resolution, citing as its reason a recent decision of the Supreme Court. Under the Civil Code of the Philippines, judicial decisions form part of the legal system in the country.

Gujilde further said only aspirants may be allowed inside the Comelec offices during the filing of COCs as part of the poll body’s crowd control measures.

Official candidates

There are more than 18,000 local and national elective seats at stake in the 2016 elections.

Provincial bets, including district representatives in Cebu, should file their COCs in the Comelec provincial office while local aspirants should submit theirs to their respective Comelec offices.

Gujilde said they expect most of the politicians to flock to the Comelec offices on the last day of filing of COCs.

He further made it clear that aspirants are not considered as official candidates upon the filing of their COCs since they are still subject to determination if they are indeed qualified.

“Kung way mo-file og disqualifications or di sila ma-declare nuisance, qualified candidates sila,” he said.

Comelec has the power to reject nuisance candidates, cancel a COC or even disqualify candidates as provided for under the Omnibus Election Code.

When asked if would-be candidates, after filing their COCs, would be held liable for premature campaigning, Gujilde said not yet, explaining that they will only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period and that any unlawful acts will take effect only upon the start of the campaign period.

The election period for the May 9, 2016 elections commences on January 10 and ends on June 8 in the same year.

The campaign period for candidates for President, Vice President, Senator and partylist groups participating in the partylist system will be from February 9 to May 7, 2016. The campaign period for members of the House of Representatives, and elective regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials starts from March 25 until May 7, 2016.

The ongoing voters’ registration is also suspended starting today until Friday to give way for the filing of COCs.

“We have completed our preparations already especially in arranging our office for the flow of the filing. We are now ready. Hopefully, they will file early,” said Comelec-Cebu City North district Election Officer Marchel Sarno.

The first district office, or the north district, has been designated as the sole office where the candidates can file their COCs during office hours.

In Cebu City, Sarno said they are expecting not more than 60 candidates.

Sarno asked the candidates to inform their office beforehand for a coordinated date of filing, thus providing convenience for all candidates.

Security

The Cebu City Police Office will detail policemen who will ensure security during this week’s filing of COCs even though the Comelec has not requested any for that particular activity.

However, CCPO acting chief Senior Superintendent Marciano Batiancela Jr. said he will still assign at least two police personnel today so that the activity will still be secured. —/BRP (FREEMAN)