Filing of certificates of candidacy starts Nov. 20

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued yesterday the guidelines on the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) from Nov. 20 to 30 for the local and national elections on May 10, 2010.

In Resolution 8678, the Comelec said starting Nov. 20 up to midnight of Nov. 30, 2009, Comelec offices would be receiving the COCs.                     

“For those who are going to run for the position of president, vice president and senator, they should file their COC with the Comelec Law Department in Intramuros, Manila,” the commission said in a statement.

Candidates who will run for the congressional districts in the National Capital Region should file their COCs at the office of the regional election director (RED) for Metro Manila.

The office of the provincial election supervisors, on the other hand, would receive the COCs for congressmen of legislative districts in the provinces and for provincial elective posts.

“Comelec election officers designated by the RED shall be receiving the COC for members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in cities outside Metro Manila, which comprise one or more legislative districts and the COC for city officials of cities with more than one election officer. The COC for local positions in cities/municipalities should be filed with the city/municipal election officer concerned,” the Comelec added.

The resolution showed that the COC must be filed in person. 

“No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram, or facsimile. The authority of the authorized representative shall be in writing and under oath and attached to the certificate of candidacy,” the resolution stated.