Comelec resets filing of COCs to Oct. 11-17

MANILA, Philippines — It’s official: the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for next year’s May 13 elections has been reset to Oct. 11 to 17.

Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday the Comelec approved the recommendation of lawmakers to move the filing of COCs.

“Comelec en banc has authorized the rescheduling of the filing of COCs for the 2019 elections to Oct. 11 to 17,” Jimenez said.

He said the filing period excludes Saturday and Sunday.

“On the last day (of filing), there will be no extension of filing hours,” Jimenez said.

The House of Representatives previously passed a resolution for the rescheduling of the filing of COCs from Oct. 1 to 5 to Oct. 11 to 17. The Senate adopted the same resolution.

Lawmakers said the postponement would allow them to focus on the budget deliberations and other legislative duties.

The Comelec would have wanted an earlier filing of COCs so that there would be more time to validate the list of candidates and printing of the ballots.

Poll officials claimed that postponing the filing for a week could adversely affect preparations for the midterm elections as well as the holding of the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The leadership of the House of Representatives welcomed the decision of the Comelec to reset the COC filing period.

“Now, we can buckle down to work and focus on deliberating the priority legislative measures of the President without the distractions of electoral campaign. We have approved on third and final reading six of these measures and we hope to wrap up committee and plenary deliberations on other pending bills,” Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said.?“The House leadership will also reach out to our counterparts in the Senate to discuss ways on how to expedite the passage into law of these priority bills. We expect more productive sessions ahead, with the end in view of completing our task before the election campaign period commences in October,” he said.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Andaya authored the resolution asking the Comelec to reset the filing period.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III welcomed the decision of the Comelec to reschedule the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 midterm polls.

“Amen, thank you. No more extra break then. More working time,” Sotto said.

Last Monday, the Senate approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 urging the Comelec to move the filing of the COC from Oct. 1 to 5 to Oct. 11 to 17. - With Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy