IT WAS a quiet first day for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Davao Region on Friday, October 1, 2021.
Lawyer Gay Enumerables, Comelec-Davao assistant director, told the media in a short interview on Friday morning that they are expecting that only a few candidates will file their COC on the first day.
Enumerables added that they are expecting that candidates would troop the Comelec offices when the last day of the COC filing, October 8, draws closer.
Compared to the previous years, the COC filing is usually festive with candidates bringing their supporters, some even with a live band. However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Comelec had implemented strict measures on the COC filing.
Enumerables said candidates are only allowed to bring a maximum of two persons inside the Comelec office.
"Gina-discourage namo nga mag uban murag pyesta because of Covid[-19]. Ato mga kandidato should be responsible na di magpatapok og tawo," she said.
The official also tapped the Davao City Police Office to help in ensuring that health protocols were properly observed.
Meanwhile, she said a candidate can send a representative to file on his or her behalf. But she said that once a candidate decides to withdraw, he or she must personally visit the Comelec office to officiate his or her withdrawal from the electoral race.
After the COC filing, the Comelec will resume the voter registration from October 11 to 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be no weekend registration, except on October 30.
First day filers
In Davao City, only three candidates filed their COC on the first day.
Third District Councilor Wilberto Al-ag was the first to file his COC at the Comelec office around 8 a.m.
Al-ag will be running under the regional party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.
Former Councilor Nilo "Small" Abellera Jr. was the second one to file his COC around 10 a.m.
Small is the son of current Councilor Nilo Abellera Sr., who had previously served as councilor. The young Abellera had previously served as councilor.
“Syempre, napag-isturyahan sa among pamilya, napagdesisyunan nga ako na mudagan... Naa na pud siyay edad. Naa pud siya'y gibati. Diabetic ako father,” Small said.
Small said he decided to file his COC early to avoid gathering in one place.
Another son of a current councilor, Danilo Dayanghirang II, son of Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, will be following the footsteps of his father, who is on his last term.
Danilo II, a former pilot and barangay kagawad in Buhangin, said he is not pressured considering his father has been a longtime councilor in the city.
"Pressure is part of my job. Transitioning to politics, I guess wala kaayo'y (there is no) pressure," he said.
He said the elder Dayanghirang will be running as second district representative and will file his certificate of candidacy next week.
Meanwhile, there is no official word yet when the Dutertes will be filing their COCs.
Davao City Mayor Sara uterte-Carpio will be running as re-electionist after declining calls for her to run for presidency.
Her brother, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, will also run again for the same position.
But Duterte-Carpio recently announced that she will be taking a leave from October 5 to 8, as she will be out of the country.
In Mati City, Mayor Michelle Rabat announced her reelection bid in the city for the next year's poll.