AS OF Friday morning, two presidential aspirants who filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office have been accepted.

Gilbert Garcia and Rigoberto Madera, also known as NNN, have been accepted to run for president after completing the requirements.

Aside from Garcia and Madera, early birds who filed for COCs are Gregorio "Manok" Samia, David Torralba Alimorong, Manny Lopez, Daniel Magtira, and Josefina Morillo.

Lawyer Oliver Lozano, who filed an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was denied by Comelec when his colleague Mel Chavez filed the COC instead.

The Comelec said Lozano violated the application process that clearly requires personal appearance when submitting the COC.

Major presidential bets, however, have not yet filed their certificates of candidacy.

In Cebu, Businessman Crisologo Saavedra officially filed his COC for mayor in the city for the upcoming election.

Saavedra said he is not afraid to run against the incumbent mayor, Tomas Osmeña, because he is confident that his line-up is competitive enough to win.

No one has filed COCs in Mandaue, Lapulapu, and Talisay City but a number of individuals have asked for application forms, a report said. Comelec officials in Lapu-Lapu said it may be because the city is celebrating the eve of the Mactan festival. (Sunnex)