IT’S all systems go for today’s start of the weeklong filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC), which signals the “unofficial” start of the campaign season leading to the May 12, 2025 synchronized national and local polls, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia, however, clarified that those who will file their CoCs from October 1 to 8 are not yet candidates but just aspirants, adding that “they will only be considered candidates at the start of the campaign season.”
The poll chief also pointed out that whether one’s name would be included on the list of candidates is another story, saying that Comelec can “motu proprio (on its own)” cancel the names of nuisance or unqualified candidates.
BEATING THE DEADLINE Voters register at a satellite registration office of the Commission on Elections in Marikina City on Sept. 30, 2024, the last day for voters to file their application for registration. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
He added that for the first time in election history, the Comelec will publish the names of all who filed a CoC to help the poll body cleanse the list of candidates whose names would be included in the official ballot.
“Two weeks after the filing of CoC, we will publish in the Comelec website all names of candidates, so the public will know who they are,” Garcia said, adding that “complaints against candidates would be immediately acted upon by the commission to cleanse the list of candidates that will be included in the printing of ballots.”
Garcia also clarified that anybody can still file a CoC with the Comelec regardless of the person’s identity and qualification, because under existing laws, it is the ministerial duty of the commission to accept all CoCs filed.
He admitted that Comelec is powerless against aspirants even if they engage in premature campaigning because of the “Peñera Doctrine.”
Under the Peñera Doctrine, a person is not yet considered a candidate after filing his or her CoC. One only becomes an official candidate at the start of the campaign period.
“The power of Comelec only comes in at the start of the election period, which is 120 days before the scheduled polls,” Garcia said, adding that from October to the early part of January 2025, the “Comelec is inutile and powerless.”
He pointed out that during that period, the Comelec has no power to file cases or remove illegal campaign materials because those who have already filed their CoCs are not yet considered candidates.
Garcia said the Comelec expects about 500,000 aspirants to vie for the 18,280 national and local positions that would be contested in next year’s polls.
Up for grabs are positions for 12 for senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list groups, 82 governors, 82 vice governors, `800 provincial council members, 149 city mayors, 149 city vice mayors, 1,682 city council members, 1,493 municipal mayors, 1,493 municipal vice mayors, 11,948 municipal council members, and 25 BBARMM parliament members and 40 BARMM party-list representatives.
Senatorial and party-list candidates should file their CoCs at the Law Department Offsite Office at the Tent City of Manila Hotel.
Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) should file their CoCs at the Office of the Regional Election Director-NCR Office. CoCs of candidates in legislative districts in the provinces should be filed at the concerned Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES) or at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) designated by the regional election director.
Those vying for the positions of governor, vice governor and members of the provincial council should file their CoCs at the OPES.
Candidates for city and municipal mayors and vice mayors, and members of the city and municipal councils should file their CoCs at the OEO.
The CoC filing will continue from November 4 to 9 for certain BARMM district representatives, particularly for the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi.
The waste and pollution watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition appealed to all aspiring individuals and party-list groups for the 2025 national and local elections to keep public health and the environment at the center of their campaign to win and to serve.
“We appeal to all participating individuals, political parties, and party-list groups and their supporters to show they truly care for Mother Earth and her people by giving environmental protection due importance in thoughts, words and deeds,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“Observe the rules set by the Comelec, and please keep the CoC filing simple and all filing venues litter-free,” it added.
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