Malls eyed as venues for filing of COCs

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying the possibility of holding the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October this year at select malls in Manila.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said during yesterday’s Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum that they are studying the “mechanics” of the filing of COCs in malls as he emphasized that they expect around 40,000 COC filers in the city alone.

“Most likely in Manila... not really a pilot test but as the situation may require,” he said, noting the capital city may have 40,000 COC filers.

Laudiangco explained that holding the COC filing in malls would accommodate more aspiring officials for the barangay and SK polls as he emphasized that their field office in Manila could not accommodate filers from districts one to six.

He said their election officer in the Manila office usually receives more than 28,000 COCs for the barangay and SK polls alone.

“We’re finalizing the plan that in District 1 of Manila might go to Lucky Chinatown, apart from those in nearby districts like SM Manila, SM San Lazaro, Robinsons Manila,” Laudiangco said.

The Comelec reset the filing of the COC from July 3 to 7 to Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 after some lawmakers asked the poll body to give aspiring barangay and SK officials enough time to decide whether to push their candidacy or not.

Aside from the filing of COCs in malls, Laudiangco said they are also set to pilot-test voting in malls for this year’s barangay and SK polls and that they are identifying which malls would host the voting.

But he said that they have received approval from SM Manila, SM San Lazaro, SM Fairview and SM Sucat along with the Robinsons Malls such as in Manila and in other regions, including Bicol and Cebu, where voter registration was held.