Comelec urges candidates to limit their companions during COC filing

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged those who will file their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2022 national and local elections to limit their companions.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez made the statement to ensure everyone's safety amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We are reminding those that will be filing their COCs to limit the number of people who you will take with you,” said Jimenez in an online forum on Sunday, Aug. 29.
“Umaapela din kami sa mga personalities na gusto pumunta, kung pwede, wag na kayo pumunta. Iwan nyo na mga kandidato mismo na pumunta (We also appeal to personalities who want to join, if possible, don't go anymore. Just leave it to the candidates),” he added.
Jimenez said that the safety of the event is a shared responsibility, and not just of the Comelec.
“I would like to point out that keeping people safe is not exclusively the Comelec's problem. It is everyone's problem,” he said.
“The responsibility is with them also to act safely,” he added.
However, the Comelec official assured that they will implement extra precautions to avoid violations against their set guidelines.
“Comelec can only do so much. But, we will do our best, maglalagay kami ng extra tao, magalalgay kami ng maraming (will put extra personnel as well as) chokepoints,” said Jimenez.
The COC filing is set on Oct. 1 to 8, said Jimenez.
New COC filing venue
The Comelec will also hold the COC filing in a different venue to observe physical distancing, said Jimenez.
Previously, the activity was held at the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila where candidates for president, vice-president, senators, and partylist usually file their COCs.
Jimenez said that the location of the new venue will help prevent people from entering the COC venue. He did not reveal yet where exactly the new venue is.
“The venue itself is (the) biggest deterrent. We will be off site. It won't happen in Intramuros. The location we selected is physically laid out na hindi madali makapasok sa loob (it’s difficult to enter),” he said.
“The location we are choosing will have a long distance between the main road and actual filing area,” he added.