Comelec: No problem with Enrile changing COCs

MANILA, Philippines— The Commission on Elections said former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's correction of his certificate of candidacy for senator is allowed.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said minor changes or amendments in the COC forms are allowed within the filing period.

LOOK: Juan Ponce Enrile’s COC form was corrected. Initial occupation indicated was “business woman.”

The “wo” part was erased by a correction fluid.@PhilstarNews #Elections2019 pic.twitter.com/nYhKKsMh4Y

— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) October 16, 2018

“Changes are allowed until October 17. After that, things are considered submitted, subject, of course, to withdrawal or substitution,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez made the clarification after Enrile’s lawyer Joseph Sagondoy on Tuesday filed the COC on his behalf. Enrile’s authorized representative however, mistakenly wrote “business woman” as his occupation.

READ: Enrile comes out of retirement for Senate return

The form was corrected by the Comelec and deleted the “wo” part with correction fluid.

Despite the changes made, Enrile personally filed a COC for senator on Wednesday anew. He also changed his political party.

“Yesterday, I was running as an independent because I forgot that I ran under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino in the last election,” Enrile said, referring to the party led by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who was president from 1998 to 2001.

The 94-year-old Enrile is eyeing a Senate comeback despite facing plunder and graft charges for his alleged involvement in the multimillion-peso pork barrel scam.