Poll aspirants are expected to flood the different venues of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, on the first day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 2025 National and Local Elections.

In a chance interview on Monday, Sept. 30, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that it's 'all systems go' for the first day of filing. 

Garcia appealed to the aspirants to comply with the rules that they have set to ensure a smooth conduct of the COC filing.

"Sana naman panatilihin na lang nating maayos ang filing ng candidacy natin, diyan po natin makikita kapag handa ang bawat isa na sumunod pagka kayo'y nahalal na, dito pa lang sa filing ng COC. Isa po itong pakiusap mula sa amin sa Comelec (Let's just make sure to maintain an orderly conduct of the COC filing. This is where we can see if everyone is prepared to follow rules once they are elected, starting with the filing of the COC. This is our request the Comelec)," he added.

Complete your requirements

Garcia told the COC filers to complete the necessary requirements before heading to their respective venues and make sure to bring only the allowed number of people with them.

"Filled up na properly yung mismong form, alam niyo may mga naranasan kasi dati hindi yung proper form yung finillup-an (Their COC forms should be filled up properly since there were times before that aspirants submitted the wrong forms)," he said.  

Garcia said that they will be strict in enforcing the rule in the number of people allowed to accompany each aspirant.

"Magiging mahigpit ang Comelec. Apat lang bawat isang kandidato ang puwedeng isama kahit yung party-list dapat apat lamang ang kasama nung mismong filer, yung mismong authorized na mag-file ng COC (Comelec will be strict about this. Only four individuals per candidate will be allowed to accompany them, including party-lists; only four should be with the actual filer, the authorized person who files the COC)," Garcia said.

"Ito po'y warning na lang sa ibang gustong sumama. Kung dati po may mga nangyayaring ganyan sana po wag na tayo makipagmatigasan sapagkat makikipagmatigasan din ang Comelec. Kokonti ang espasyo dun sa lugar kung saan magkakaroon ng filing dito po  sa national kahit sa local (This is a warning to others who want to join in. If you were able to do this before, let's not be stubborn because the Comelec will also dig in its heels. The space is limited in the area where the filing will take place, whether it's at the national or local level)," he explained.

He also reminded filers that COCs shall be sworn to before a notary public or any official authorized to administer an oath. Garcia said that Comelec employees are not authorized to administer oaths, even in their capacities as a notary public.

Lastly, he reminded aspirants that a documentary stamp shall be attached to the COC.

Venue for filing

Comelec has already issued the list of venues for the filing of COCs across the country. This can be viewed on the Comelec website. 

The poll body said that filing COCs are venue-specific since those aspiring for national positions such as senators and party-list representatives need to file their COCs at the Comelec's Law Department Offsite Office, which will be located at the Manila Hotel. 

According to Comelec, a COC filed with the incorrect office is deemed as not filed.

Five copies of the COC are required to be filed and in case of discrepancy, the copy in possession of the Law Department shall prevail. Aspirants are required to affix a passport-size photograph taken within the last six months. They may also attach a bio-data and program of government not exceeding 100 words.

COCs shall be filed by the aspirant either personally or through an authorized representative with a sworn and signed authority to file the COC. 

No person shall be eligible to run for more than one office to be filled in the same election. In case an aspirant files a COC for more than one office, he or she shall not be eligible for any of them.

Aspirants have until Oct. 8 to file their COCs.

18,000 positions to be filled

For the upcoming May 2025 mid-term polls, a total of 18,280 elective positions are set to be filled.

These are the following: Senators, 12; Party-List Representatives, 63; Member, House of Representatives, 254; Governor, 82; Vice-Governor, 82; Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, 800; City Mayor, 149; City Vice-Mayor, 149; Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod, 1,690; Municipal Mayor, 1,493; Municipal Vice-Mayor, 1,493; Member, Sangguniang Bayan, 11,948; BARMM Members of the Parliament, 25; BARMM Party Representatives, 40.

With Sulu's exclusion, Comelec released a resolution amending the calendar of events in relation to the BARMM elections.

Under Resolution 11051, the COC for District Representative in the BARMM Parliament shall be filed on Nov. 4, 2024 (Monday) to Nov. 9, 2024 (Saturday), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO) through the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES).

Filing of CONA

Garcia said that if an aspirant was endorsed by a political party, a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) shall be in the form prescribed by the Commission, under oath, and filed simultaneously with the COC in five copies.

Comelec said that no duly registered political party or coalition shall be allowed to nominate more than the number of candidates required to be voted for in a
particular elective position.

"Kung dumating ang huling araw ng filing ng COC at wala iyon, kayo po ay macoconsider na independent candidate (If the deadline to file your COC has passed and this was not included, you will then be considered an independent candidate)," he explained.

Filing of CON-CAN

The Certificate of Nomination (CON) and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CAN) Affidavit of Qualifications shall be filed by the Chairperson, President, Secretary General or authorized representative.

The presence of their respective nominees shall not be required.

Substitution of candidates

To avoid a repeat of the glut of substitutions that occurred in relation to the May 2022 elections, COCs for substitution due to the withdrawal of the original aspirant can only be made until Oct. 8. In his or her Statement of Withdrawal, the original aspirant must include the name of the substitute. In this case, the name of the substitute will appear on the ballot.

Substitution due to death or disqualification can be made up to the mid-day of May 12, 2025. 

After Nov. 15, 2024, the substitute may file a COC and CONA, provided, that the substitute shares the same surname as the original aspirant.

In this case, the name of the substitute will appear in the ballot if the filing of COC or CONA of the substitute was made on or before Nov. 15, 2024. The name of the original aspirant will appear on the ballot if the filing of COC or CONA of the substitute was made on Nov. 16 to mid-day of May 12, 2025.

Comelec reminded filers that the original aspirant must not be an independent candidate and that the substitute must belong to the same political party as the original. 

For party-list representatives, substitution shall be allowed only if the CAN is
withdrawn on or before Oct. 8, 2024, and the party list organization submits a list of substitute nominees on or before the same period.

Comelec said that no change of names or alterations of the order of nominees shall be allowed except for cases of death and incapacity up to mid-day of May 12, 2025. The party-list organization shall submit notice and list of substitute nominees and shall publish the new and complete list.

Posting of COCs, CONA online

Garcia said that they would upload the COCs and CONAs of aspirants two weeks after the filing period.

In preparation for the posting of the COC and CONA on the website of the Commission, the receiving officer shall redact the personal sensitive information of the aspirant from the fourth copy of the COC and CONA, scan the redacted certificates into a PDF format, and save them in accordance with the guidelines set by the commission.

Alice Guo

Garcia said this is their response to the issues involving dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

The poll body's law department is set to file a case of misrepresentation against Guo after its fact-finding team has found enough basis to file a motu propio election offense case against the local official. 

This was for allegedly committing material misrepresentation in her COC during the May 2022 national and local elections.

In the COC form, Garcia says that there is a portion included stating that the candidate is allowing Comelec to publish their COCs.