Comelec to close filing of COCs at 5 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections said it will strictly close the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections at exactly 5 p.m. Wednesday.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Comelec Director Frances Arabe said the poll body will implement the 30-meter radius rule at the gate of the Palacio del Gobernador.

“Whoever is within that radius, we will accommodate them,” Arabe said.

Arabe said aspiring candidates who are within the said distance will be given numbers at the gate. She added that the Comelec may finish the processing of the COCs beyond 5 p.m. just as long as the aspirants have secured their numbers at the gate.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body sees no reason to extend the filing of COCs for the local and national elections.

He said the Comelec usually receive extension requests during the last day.

“So far that has not been talked about yet and the latest word that we got was that no extensions,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez noted the high turn-out of filers for the 2019 midterm elections. He said most parties completed the 12 slots for the Senate post.

“Some of the people filing are making the effort to fill the 12 senators talaga. Kung hindi man saktong 12, you know a big number of that limit,” Jimenez told the reporters.

“Mukhang marami ang seryosong kandidato ngayon. I think the commission will have its work cut for it when it comes to evaluating the COCs,” he added.

As of posting, at least 144 individuals filed for senator.

In the 2016 national elections, the Comelec said filer for senators reached 172 but was cut down to 52 after the evaluation.