ILOILO City – The filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 2025 national and local elections officially begins today, October 1. All Office of Election Officers (OEOs) across Western Visayas will be accepting COCs until October 8, including Saturday (Oct. 5) and Sunday (Oct. 6), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Positions open for candidacy include governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board member), mayor, vice mayor, Sangguniang Bayan/Panlungsod (councilor), congressman, senator, and party-list representative.
To ensure a smooth submission process, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan urged candidates to fill out their forms accurately.
He reminded aspirants to make sure the correct position is indicated, attach a recent passport-sized photo, include the necessary documentary stamps, have the form notarized, and ensure it bears the candidate’s signature.
“For candidates who come to our election offices, it will be easier for us to check the forms if they have already been filled out properly. Ideally, they should complete the form in advance and have it checked, so that from October 1 to 8, it can be officially received after verification,” said Ausan.
COC forms can be accessed or downloaded from the official Comelec website (https://comelec.gov.ph) or obtained directly from the local OEOs.
Ausan noted that in previous elections, many candidates encountered problems during the COC filing process due to incomplete information, using the wrong form, missing documentary stamps, lack of notarization, or missing signatures.
Candidates are required to submit at least eight copies of their COC, each containing the appropriate personal information. Any items that do not apply should be clearly marked as “not applicable.”
All copies must be notarized, signed, and include documentary stamps, along with a recent passport-sized photo.
Candidates affiliated with a political party or coalition must also attach a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) from a duly registered party or coalition.
Originally, Comelec required only five copies of the COC, but since notary public offices often retain two copies, it is now recommended that candidates prepare eight copies.
In anticipation of large crowds, some city or municipal election offices with limited space have requested to transfer the venue for COC filing.
For instance, the COC filing venue for Iloilo City has been set at the third floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo Cinema on Quezon Street. The positions covered include member of the House of Representatives for the city’s legislative district, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In Iloilo Province, the COC filing will take place at the Ground Floor, VIP Lounge of Festive Walk Mall in Mandurriao district. This venue will cater to candidates for the House of Representatives, governor, vice governor, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
To avoid overcrowding, the Comelec will limit the number of companions allowed per candidate during the filing.
According to Resolution No. 11045, candidates for national and local positions may bring up to three companions, while those running for senator may have up to four companions during the filing process.
The filing period will run until October 8./PN
