COC filing satellite site opened in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has opened a satellite site for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in Maguindanao del Norte.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body granted a request of its regional director to put up an alternative venue for the filing of COCs.

Garcia said the main venue for COC filing is located in a compound that may discourage candidates to visit.

“We are worried that they may fear going to or have second thoughts, that’s why we decided to open an alternative venue for the filing of COCs,” Garcia said.

He said the main venue is secure, but they could not prevent aspirants from having apprehensions because of its location.

Although no untoward incidents have been recorded in the area, Garcia said the Comelec decided to put up an alternative venue as a precautionary measure.

He cited the case of the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, which he said could have been prevented had there been a satellite venue for the COC filing.

Poll bets file COCs

Meanwhile, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and his running mate Vice Gov. Alexis Castro filed their COCs yesterday before provincial election superisor Mona Ann Aldana-Campos at the Hiyas Convention Center.

Comelec-Central Luzon assistant regional director Elmo Duque said two congresional candidates and a gubernatorial aspirant filed their COCs in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, respectively.

Angeles Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. filed his COC for the first congressional district in Pampanga.

In Aurora, one each filed COCs for the position of governor and vice governor.

A congressional aspirant in Tarlac and a candidate for the provincial board in Zambales were among those who filed COCs early.

In Baguio, former lawmaker Nicasio Aliping filed his COC as an independent candidate in the city’s congressional race. His expected opponents have yet to file their COCs.

In La Union, provincial administrator Francisco Ortega filed his COC for a congressional seat in the second district together with his daughter, reelectionist Gov. Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David.

The elder Ortega will face reelectionist Rep. Dante Garcia, who has not yet filed a COC.

David is expected to face her father’s uncle, incumbent Vice Gov. Mario Ortega, in the gubernatorial race.

In Mati, Davao Oriental, Mayor Michelle Rabat and her nephew, Vice Mayor Enzo Rabat, have filed their COCs.

The mayor, who is seeking her third and final term in office, filed her COC through a proxy, while the vice mayor personally filed his documents before the Comelec office. — Ramon Efren Lazaro, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Artemio Dumlao, Ric Sapnu