Last-minute filers likely: Few file COCs during 1st day

CEBU, Philippines - Two independent aspiring candidates were the first to submit their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Election-North District office yesterday during the first day of filing.

Comelec-North District is the sole office in the city assigned to cater to aspirants who will run for public office in the south and north districts of the city.

Election officer Marchel Sarno accepted the COCs of a retired court employee and a “balut” vendor yesterday.

Romeo Capangpangan, 68, a retired court employee, said he wants to run as city councilor in the south district.

Capangpangan, of Barangay Calamba, was the first aspirant who successfully filed his candidacy at 8 a.m. yesterday.

Juan Arenasa, who has been a balut vendor for three years, will be running as congressman of the north district.

Arenasa, 65, of Barangay Mabolo, said he wants to run so that Team Rama candidate Alvin Garcia and incumbent Representative Raul del Mar will have an opponent.

It was Arenasa’s eighth time to file a COC for congressman.

“Perseverance lang gyud kay siguro pagbuot sa Ginoo. Kay the voice of God is the voice of the people,” he said when asked why he has been pursuing even though he has not been winning.

Arenasa, who also worked as a security guard for several years, said he will be passing a law imposing a 10 percent tax on illegal settlers, saying that the amount will be used to construct septic tanks.

He also said he wants the financial aid for senior citizens to be increased.

He added that if he will be elected, he will give his salary to Mayor Michael Rama and City Councilor Margarita Osmeña.

Sarno said the two cannot be declared nuisance candidates until someone files a petition against them.

However, he said the office discourages nuisance candidates.

“Hangyo lang pud nato nga kining filing of certificate of candidacy o ang pagdagan, dili himuon og yaga-yaga kay obligasyon pud nato nga matunghay ang election. Kun dunay election, dili lang na trabaho sa Comelec, trabaho sa tanan as isip citizen sa nasud,” he said.

He urged the other aspirants to be early in filing their COC and not wait until the deadline, saying that Comelec will have to consolidate the documents before forwarding it to the provincial office.

PB bets first

Commission on Elections-Cebu reminded would-be candidates to ensure first that all requirements are complied with before they head to Comelec offices and submit their COCs.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, three aspirants successfully filed their COCs. They were radioman Cesar Albor, Maria Fema Duterte, both members of Garcia-led One Cebu Party, and former Provincial Board member Victoria Corominas, who will run independently in 2016.

All of them are seeking posts in the Provincial Board representing the first, seventh and third districts, respectively.

Before their COCs were received, Duterte and Albor, who filed their COCs in the morning, were asked to return to Comelec provincial office once they complied with the formal requirements. Duterte failed to bring with him an accomplished COC form, while Albor affixed 1x1 photos to his COC copies instead of the required passport-size photos.

“Naa sa Omnibus Election Code nga bisan ang pagdawat namo sa COC is just ministerial, but they must comply with the formal requirements,” Comelec-Cebu provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano told reporters.

Apart from the passport-size photo, the aspirant should also submit five copies of an accomplished COC attached with a documentary stamp. Castillano said COCs should also be originally signed by the candidate and sworn to before a notary public.

COC forms are available at the Comelec offices or can be downloaded from the Comelec official website www.comelec.gov.ph.

Aspirants who have dual citizenship are required to declare in their COCs if they have renounced foreign citizenship. Under the Local Government Code, those holding dual citizenship are disqualified from running for any elective local position.

Castillano said petitions for disqualification against candidates can be filed within five days after the last day of the filing of COCs which is on October 16.

He added that a candidate who dies or is disqua-lified by final judgment can still be substituted and that the substitute may file his or her COC up to noon of election day, provided that he and the substituted candidate have the same surnames.

No filers yet

Meanwhile, Comelec-Lapu-Lapu City Elections Officer Janet Hu-Lamban said no one has filed a COC there as of yesterday.

“Usually, ari na sila sa second to the last, or last day,” she said, referring to the candidates who are fond of last-minute filing.

She advised aspirants to comply with the requirements based on the given COC forms to avoid any delays.

“Comply lang gyud kung unsa ang requirement diha sa atong certificate of candidacy para duna pa g’yud sila enough time to review ba, basin dunay makulangan unya wala na nuon sila’y oras,” Lumban said.

She said that up to the 16th of this month only the aspiring candidates can enter their office to file a COC, their supporters can wait outside to avoid congestion inside their premise.

Businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. will reportedly file his COC either on Wednesday or Thursday while incumbent Mayor Paz Radaza will file her COC on October 16.

Pelaez and Radaza, both members of the city’s Liberal Party, are set to run against each other for mayor next year.

In Talisay City, Comelec chairman Gallardo Escobar also said as of yesterday no one has submitted a COC.

It was earlier reported that former congressman Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas, who will run for mayor, will submit his COC today together with his party, Alayon.

His grandson Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas will hear Mass at 8 a.m. before they will go to the Comelec office. Eddiegul will file with the Comelec office in Talisay while Samsam will submit his COC before the Comelec office at the Provincial Capitol.

On October 14, the group of Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante is expected to file their candidacy.

Villarante hopes to be elected as the next mayor of the city along with his running mate, Councilor Danilo Caballero, who will be vying for vice mayor.

Before filing, Villarante’s camp will attend the fluvial procession of Sta. Teresa de Avila as part of the celebration of the city’s fiesta on October 15.  After that they will also hear Mass and walk to the Comelec office.

Finally on October 15, the group of Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes will submit their COCs at around 4 p.m.

“Ang mga police sab andam na aron ma-maintain ang kahapsay ug kalinaw sa atong buhatan,” Escobar said. — with Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud and Gabriel C. Bonjoc/BRP