PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) –The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) eyes a large number of aspiring politicians in Palawan to file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on October 1 for the 2025 national and local elections.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Percival Mendoza said there are already aspiring candidates who have expressed interest in booking an appointment since the last week of September.
However, he clarified that there is no need to book an appointment to file a COC as they accept filing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Hindi na kinakailangan magpa-set ng appointment at bukas ang tanggapan dahil ito ay tanggapang pampubliko. Ano man ang appointment ay hindi naman kinakailangan, ‘yon nga lang may instances na you have to make first come, first served basis,” he said.
Citing previous experiences, Mendoza said that aspiring candidates usually file on their first day, and some choose dates depending on their beliefs.
Some of the aspiring candidates who have filed early are those under the slate of Partido Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP), the former party of Governor Dennis Socrates. They are followed by other aspirants from the coalition of Aksyon Demokratiko, the current party of Socrates, the People’s Reform Party, and the Liberal Party.
COMELEC reiterated that aspiring candidates who are employed in government services are considered resigned once they file their COCs, even if the election or campaign period has not yet begun. The elective officials, on the other hand, can still perform their duties even though they have filed their COCs.
Once the provincial COMELEC submits the COCs and soft copies to the commission’s candidate profile system, the election records and statistics department will proceed with the COC uploading.
COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia previously said that publishing COCs on its website for the first time will enhance transparency following concerns involving dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
The details will only include the information required by Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code. It specifies that the certificate must affirm the candidate’s announcement for a specified office, their eligibility, and a commitment to support and defend the Philippine Constitution.
“Ito ay magandang sistema para unang-una, ma-check ng mga kandidato ‘yong typographical error, malaman din nila ‘yong mag-a-appear sa kanila sa balota,” Mendoza explained, adding that this system allows us to accurately identify and verify the status of candidates in both local and national elections.
He stressed that COMELEC will upload COCs from aspirants across the nation in batches within two weeks to one month.
Meanwhile, COMELEC Palawan records 4,135 applicants for new registrants and transferees during the last day of registration on September 30. The local office extended the registration period from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate applicants from the province. (RG/ PIA Mimaropa-Palawan)
