The first hours of the last day of filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) in Cainta,Rizal were marked with festivities with supporters of a group of local candidates dancing and cheering on the contenders to various public offices.
Policemen had to remind the supporters of the candidates to be mindful of the social distancing policy and other health protocols as they gravitated closer whenever they would see their candidates waving at them outside the Cainta office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec officer Rhodora Yanes told Manila Bulletin that as of 10 a.m. on October 8, there were two filers for the mayoralty and vice mayoralty posts respectively, and 17 filers for Sangguniang Bayan position.
Among the last day filers were Atty. Elen Nieto, wife of incumbent mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto who is on his last term as the town’s local chief executive.
Mrs. Nieto, who spent time helping her husband in empowering the town’s women sector with livelihood skills, was the head of the legal department of the Department of Labor and Employment during the time of Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas. She moved to various private firms to head their human resources departments. She is currently the president of the Filinvest East Homeowners Association where the Nieto family resides.
Lt. Col. Orlando Carag, chief of the Cainta Police said the crowd of supporters, numbering around 500, dispersed peacefully as soon as the local candidates left the Comelec office.