Comelec Negros Occ., Bacolod ready for filing of COCs
BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the province of Negros Occidental as well as in Bacolod City is ready for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) which will start today, November 20, 2009.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Jessie Suarez yesterday started to roam around the 31 cities and municipalities in the entire province to ensure the readiness of every Comelec office for such big activity in line with the upcoming 2010 elections.
Suarez assured the public especially those who wanted to run in the elections that they will start to receive forms until midnight of December 1, 2009.
He stressed that the Comelec has extended the period of filing of COC for next year’s elections by one more day to avoid possible confusion caused by the holidays.
“Instead of November 30, the deadline for the filing of COCs, which would start on November 20, would be at midnight on December 1,” he said.
November 30 is a regular non-working holiday in honor of national hero Andres Bonifacio.
“Our deadline for the filing of application for candidacy is November 30, which is a holiday. So from November 20, we will be open for the filing of application of candidacy regardless whether it’s a Saturday or a holiday including those holidays in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao,” Melo said.
The commission expects a great number of candidates next year since it will be a national election.
Records from the Comelec revealed that 68,000 candidates ran in the May 2004 presidential elections compared to 2007 elections with only 46,000 aspirants who filed their COCs since it was only a senatorial election.
Meanwhile, Comelec Bacolod Election Supervisor Atty. Ryan Castro said they expect a great number of aspirants to file their COCs on the 29th until December 1, 2009.
“We are encouraging the soon to be candidates to file their COC’s the earliest time possible to avoid the rush and to solve whatever problem may arise during the processing of the said forms,” he added.
