No extension of COC filing period except in NCR, Ilocos

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no extension in the period for filing certificates of candidacy (COC) for those planning to run in the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) except in the National Capital Region (NCR), Abra and Ilocos Norte, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The COC filing period is set to end today, the poll body said.

“Extension is never an option,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a phone interview yesterday.

Under Comelec rules, during the last day of COC filing, if at 5 p.m. there are still aspirants inside and within 30 meters from the designated queuing/waiting area, their names shall be listed and shall be consecutively numbered.

When it is the aspirant’s turn, the prospective candidate’s name shall be called to file the COC.

However, if the aspirant fails to appear after being called, the receiving officer is authorized to refuse acceptance of the COC.

According to the Comelec, a total of 944,325 COCs have been filed from Aug. 28 to 31.

There are reportedly 70,925 who aspire to be barangay chairpersons and 518,383 seeking seats as barangay council members.

The Comelec also said there are 58,914 applicants for SK chairperson and 296,103 for SK council members.

Meanwhile, the Comelec announced that it has decided to extend the COC filing period in the NCR, Abra and Ilocos Norte as government work in these areas was suspended due to inclement weather.

In the NCR, COC filing will resume today and end on Sept. 4.

As for Abra, COC filing resumed yesterday and runs until Sept. 4.

In Ilocos Norte, the Comelec said COC filing shall be open until tomorrow.