Filing of COCs may be moved — Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is open to the proposal of lawmakers to postpone the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for next year’s May 13 elections.

But Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday said it is important that preparations will not be hampered.

“We have an election calendar that will be affected if we move the date. But if it is possible without delaying our preparations, why not?” said Guanzon in an interview.

She noted that the commission will be discussing the proposal in their regular meeting today. 

Guanzon made the statement in response to the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 13 and House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, which push to reset the period of filing of COCs from Oct. 1 to 5 to Oct. 11 to 17.

The lawmakers claimed that the postponement would allow them to focus on budget deliberations and other legislative duties. 

In a separate interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez cautioned that changing the schedule of the COC filing will affect their preparations. 

“It would have a big effect because everything else will be pushed back. It is like dominoes – you (push) one piece and all others will go down,” he added.              

Jimenez said Comelec scheduled the COC filing to give way to the other aspects of preparations, especially since the names of the candidates will have to be pre-printed on the ballots. 

Comelec preparations also include screening the candidates for the nuisance bets, determining the design and printing the ballots and delivering the ballots, election paraphernalia and voting system.

For its part, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) posted no objection to the proposal, as it expressed belief that the “political realignment” at the House of Representatives is one of the reasons for this.

In an interview, Namfrel secretary-general Eric Alvia said while it is true that Congress is still busy deliberating on the budget and other legislative duties, the other pressing reason for seeking the postponement could be the changes in political affiliation at the House.

“The House is really not ready (for COC filing) because of the ongoing realignment there. I’m sure most of them are not yet complete with their slate – that’s one underlying reason,” he noted. 

According to Alvia, a postponement could be justifiable but the public should be assured that the preparations for the elections will not be compromised if the calendar of the Comelec is changed.