Unlike in previous days, the sixth day of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2022 polls at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City drew many filers.
Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed 15 filers for president, 1 for vice president, 18 for senator while 50 partylist groups have filed their certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs) on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
Among the prominent figures who filed their COCs for president are Senator Panfilo Lacson, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales.
Senatorial aspirants include reelectionist Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva, former public works secretary Mark Villar, former Makati City representative Monsour del Rosario, and former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista.
"We've had all of the major filers, I think...But I think there's still a few who might still come in the next couple of days," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said at the sidelines of the COC filing.
Overall since Oct.1, the Comelec said there are already 41 aspirants for president, 9 for vice president, 63 for senators, and 125 party-list organizations.
Meanwhile, the poll official said aspirants who bring crowds during the filing are being irresponsible amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are still in the middle of a pandemic and if you bring crowds with you, you are being irresponsible with the lives of your supporters, and I think people should punish that sort of behavior," said Jimenez.
The filing of COCs and CONAs will run until Oct. 8.