Pimentel first to file COC

MANILA (3rd Update) -- Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Monday morning formalized his re-election bid for the 2013 midterm elections and filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.

“I went first so as not to be caught up by our busy schedule. I’ll be very busy the rest of the week so just be sure,” said Pimentel.

Although a member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban), Pimentel is a guest candidate of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

He, however, reiterated that he will run under the Liberal Party (LP) of President Benigno Aquino III.

“I will follow the lead of the LP,” said Pimentel.

To recall, Pimentel was originally set to run under the UNA ticket, which is a coalition of PDP-Laban and former president Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

President Benigno Aquino III will be announcing the complete LP ticket at 10 a.m. Monday at the Club Filipino in San Juan City.

Following Pimentel, Eric Bernardino, who plans to have a mass housing project, is the second to file his COC.

Daniel Magtira, who was third to file his COC, listed "Kris Aquino" as his spouse.

Kris Aquino, Queen of All Media, is the sister of President Benigno Aquino III.

Under his occupation, Magtira said he is a contestant of TV5's Talentadong Pinoy.

Magtira also claims he is officially nominated by Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, wife of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially opened its offices to candidates who will be filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) starting Monday to Friday for the 2013 national and local polls.

A total of 18,022 national and local positions are to be filled up in the May 13, 2013 elections.

Candidates running for senatorial positions should file their COCs at the Project Management Office at the Comelec Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.

For local positions, those who are running for congressional seats, they may file their COCs at the Office of National Capital Region Director for Metro Manila; Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor for provincial officials, including congressmen; Office of the City/Municipal Election Officer for city/municipal officials; Office of the Armm Regional Election Director for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor and vice governor; and Office of the Armm Provincial Election Supervisor for Armm legislative assembly members.

“The Certificate of Candidacy shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representative, whose authority shall be in writing, under oath and attached,” the Comelec said.

Positions at stake in next year’s polls are for 12 senators, 229 district members of the House of Representatives, 80 governors, 80 vice governors, 766 members of the Provincial Government, 138 city mayors, 138 city vice mayors, 1,532 members of the City Council, 1,496 municipal mayors, 1,496 municipal vice mayors, and 11,972 members of the Municipal Government.

Other positions available are one regional governor, one regional vice governor, and 24 regional assemblymen for the Armm.

COCs will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 4:45 p.m. of October 5, if there are still persons intending to file COCs and present inside the offices, the Comelec has authorized the receiving officers to prepare a complete list containing the names of said persons, consecutively numbered, and the time of listing.(Kathrina Alvarez/Virgil B. Lopez/HDT/Sunnex)