Only three people have filed their candidacy so far in Pateros, the smallest local government unit in Metro Manila, for the May 9, 2022 elections.
According to Armando Mallorca, head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Pateros, the three have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for councilor.
One candidate filed the COC on Oct. 1, another on Oct. 3 and one on Oct. 4.
Mallorca said they expect a surge in the filing of COCs on Wednesday and Thursday.
The filing of COC is from Oct. 1 to 8. The positions up for grabs in Pateros are mayor, vice mayor and six seats for councilors in each of the municipality’s two districts.
Miguel Ponce III and Gerald German are the incumbent mayor and vice mayor of Pateros, respectively.
Ponce recently joined the Aksyon Demokratiko party, which has Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Dr. Willie Ong as its presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively.
Comelec-Pateros reminded that each candidate is allowed to have a maximum of two companions in the filing of COC. Their temperature will be checked and they need to fill out a health declaration form.
Five copies of COC will be submitted along with five passport-size photos. The COC must be notarized.