Filing of COCs for Zambo village polls starts Nov. 7

MANILA, Philippines - Those aspiring to become village leaders in war-torn Zamboanga City have only five days to decide if they will run in the barangay elections there on Nov. 25.

Based on Resolution 9805 of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) in the city will run from Nov. 7 to 13.

The campaign period, meanwhile, will be from Nov. 15 to 23.

The Comelec had decided to suspend the Oct. 28 barangay polls there due to massive destruction caused by the three-week standoff between government forces and members of the Moro National Liberation Front.

The poll body consulted local authorities and the departments of education and social welfare and development, the police and the military who said that the welfare of the residents and rehabilitation of the community should be given priority.

Aside from Zamboanga City, the Comelec was also forced to reset the barangay elections in Bohol after the province was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake last month.

In Resolution No. 9804, the Comelec said the COCs filed in Bohol last Oct. 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 would be considered as validly filed.

But the Comelec set additional dates for the filing of more COCs, exclusively in the province of Bohol on Oct. 28 and 29 to compensate for the days when operation of the local Comelec offices was disrupted by the earthquake.

The poll body has also set the campaign period in Bohol from Nov. 15 to 23.

The election period for the barangay elections during which the gun ban will be in effect in Zamboanga City and Bohol started last Oct. 26 and will end on Dec. 10.