ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the final venues for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for both Iloilo City and the province of Iloilo. The filing period is set to run from October 1 to 8.
According to a media advisory issued by Atty. Reinier Layson, provincial election supervisor for Comelec-Iloilo Province, the venue for filing COCs for candidates running for provincial positions, including member of the House of Representatives for legislative districts, governor, vice governor, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, will be at the Ground Floor, VIP Lounge of Festive Walk Mall, located in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City.
In previous elections, COC filings for these positions were held at the Comelec-Iloilo Provincial Office in La Paz district.
For candidates running in Iloilo City, including those vying for member of the House of Representatives for city legislative districts, mayor, vice mayor, and Sangguniang Panlungsod members, the filing will take place on the third floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo Cinema along Quezon Street, Iloilo City.
Earlier, Jonathan Sayno, Election Assistant II of Comelec Iloilo City, mentioned that the COC filing was initially planned for Festive Walk Mall in Mandurriao district. However, the venue was changed to Robinsons Place due to expectations of large crowds of supporters from the city, necessitating a bigger space.
Layson and Sayno reminded aspirants to download the COC forms from the Comelec website (comelec.gov.ph) or obtain them from the nearest Comelec office. Candidates are encouraged to fill out the forms in advance and have them notarized before heading to the venue to expedite the submission process.
Candidates must complete all necessary information on the COC form and mark “N/A” where applicable. Each form must be signed, accompanied by a recent passport-sized photograph taken within the last six months, and notarized with a documentary stamp affixed.
The first copy of the form should bear the actual documentary stamp, while subsequent copies only need to indicate the stamp number.
“Candidates should submit a recent photo, not one from years ago, to reflect their current appearance,” Sayno stressed.
For candidates affiliated with a political party, a notarized Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) must also be submitted along with the COC. Independent candidates, however, are exempt from this requirement.
The COC form is free of charge, and candidates may assign an authorized representative to file on their behalf. However, Sayno cautioned that this comes with risks.
“A representative can file the COC as long as they are authorized, but they cannot correct any errors. This could be problematic if the candidate is abroad and unable to make the necessary changes,” Sayno explained.
Candidates are also reminded to adhere to the 30-character limit when selecting the name to appear on the official ballot. The name may consist of either their first name or nickname, but must not exceed the character limit. If the chosen name exceeds 30 characters, Comelec will decide which name will appear, typically the one the candidate is most recognized by.
Double names or nicknames are prohibited.
To maintain an orderly filing process, only up to three supporters will be allowed to accompany each candidate. Additional supporters must stay outside the designated filing area to avoid overcrowding and disruptions.
Sayno emphasized that Comelec will strictly enforce this rule to ensure smooth operations during the filing period./PN
