The early morning downpour marked the first few hours of the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of candidates aiming for local positions at the provincial office of the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Taytay, Rizal.
Tents were set up outside the office of Comelec Rizal inside the compound which houses the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Provincial Jail to serve as the area for the filing of candidacy for local positions.
Election supervisor, Atty. Arnulfo Pioquinto told Manila Bulletin that the set up complies with the government health protocols including the mandatory temperature checking and the signing of the health declaration form as first step before the filers can proceed to the filing area.
The earliest to file his COC was Jose M. Velasco of Sitio El Dorado in Barangag San Jose, Antipolo City who was officially logged at 8:35 a.m. as candidate for governor
Second early filer was reelectionist Congressman Michael John Duavit of the first District of Rizal Province of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition. He was logged at 10:27 a.m. in the Comelec’s record.
Third in the list of early filers was former Rizal Governor Casimiro ‘Ito’ Ynares whose name was recorded at 10:30 a.m. Ynares who filed his COC under the NPC party as candidate for governor, is the husband of incumbent Governor Rebecca ‘Nini’ Ynares and father of former Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares, III.
Rains poured a few minutes after the first three filers left the Comelec office.
Pioquinto said he expects the filing of the COC in the provincial and city and municipal level to be peaceful and orderly.