THE provincial and local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are all set for the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) for the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
The filing of COCs, which is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Thursday, October 11, is until October 17, except Saturday and Sunday.
Provincial election supervisor Jessie Suarez is reminding the candidates to complete all the requirements and completely fill out their COCs for a smooth filing at their respective poll offices.
"Candidates should thoroughly review their COCs like their signatures, documentary stamps and the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (Cona) issued by their political parties,” he said.
Suarez has been reminding candidates to make sure of their candidacy because, after the elections, they will be required to submit their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (Soce) and that failure to comply entails bigger penalties.
"Candidates should assess their chances of winning and should be a serious candidate this time because Comelec is strict on the submission of Soce," Suarez said.
Suarez also reminded the supporters of the candidates and political parties to observe order and should stay away from inside the Comelec offices during the filing of the COCs.
For her part, Bacolod City election registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said Thursday the candidates should comply with the new revised COC forms at the Comelec office.
“They [candidates] should file their COC early so they will have enough time to correct their documents if there are some corrections,” she added
“If they are nominated by any political party, they [candidates] should have a Cona. Otherwise, without that, they will be considered as independent,” Majarucon-Sia said.
She said the candidates should submit the Cona certificate and COC which was duly notarized with documentary stamps and passport size picture.
Majarucon-Sia reminded the candidates to double check their Cona if it is for 2019 elections and if they cannot file it personally, their representatives should have an authority to file which was also duly notarized.
The Comelec also stressed that the filing of COC during the last day of filing will have no extension of time.
The election period will start from January 13 to June 12, 2019.
The campaign period for senatorial bets and party-list groups will be from February 12 to May 11, 2019, while the campaign period for congressman and other local candidates will start from March 29 to May 11, 2019.
Campaigning is prohibited on Holy Thursday, March 28, and Good Friday, March 29, 2019.
Starting November 30, 2018, until midday of Election Day, the substitute of an official candidate of a political party or coalition, who died or was disqualified by final judgment, may file their COC, provided that the substitute candidate and the substituted candidate have the same surname.
The last day for candidates to file their Soce is on June 12, 2019.