LAOAG CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has run out of documentary stamps required in the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) as more than 3,000 candidates registered for the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Laoag City election officer Julius Harvey Balbas said in an interview on Tuesday, August 29, that 3,319 individuals filed their COCs in the province, 243 of them were from this city.

The stamp is an excise tax levied on documents, instruments, loan agreements, and papers that proves the acceptance, assignment, sale, or transfer of an obligation, rights, or property.

Based on Comelec guidelines, the COC will only be accepted once all documents are in place.

As early as 4:30 a.m., a few hours ahead of the schedule of filing from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, August 29, many aspirants were already at the Laoag City Basketball Court to be the first in the waiting line.

“We encouraged COC filers to come early and avoid the rush during the deadline which is on September 2, 2023,” said Balbas, adding the filing process takes longer this time as each candidate has to go through verification process, particularly on the age qualification and voter registration.

According to the Comelec calendar, the election period will run from August 28 to November 29. “Once you filed your COC, you are already considered a candidate, hence, you are expected to abide by the election guidelines,” he said.

To file their COCs, candidates should visit the Offices of Election Officers that have jurisdiction over their respective barangays.

Qualified to run as Punong Barangay or Sangguniang Barangay member is a citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter in the barangay where the aspirant intends to be elected, a resident in the barangay for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election, able to read and write Filipino or any other local language, or dialect and is at least 18 years of age on Election Day.

For SK aspirants, qualifications include being a citizen of the Philippines, a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan, a resident of the barangay for not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the elections, at least 18-years-old but not more than 24 years of age on the day of the elections, able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect, and must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official in the locality where aspirant seeks to be elected.