THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will post online by the end of the month the certificates of candidacy (COCs) that were filed between October 1 to 8, spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said yesterday.
“Before the month ends, around October 29, the Comelec will be posting on our website the initial list of those that filed their COCs,” Laudiangco said in a television interview.
He clarified, though, that the COCs to be posted in the Comelec website is still not the final list of candidates who will run in the 2025 national and local elections.
“Being included (in the list of those who filed their COCs) does not mean that they will surely be included in the final list of candidates in the coming elections,” he said.
Laudiangco said the poll body will screen the COCs for nuisance candidates.
“This October, we shall also start accepting different petitions to cancel or deny due course, as well as for disqualification,” he said.
In a separate interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the decision to post the COCs online is meant to adequately inform the public on the qualifications of all the aspirants.
He said this is the offshoot of the case of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who is accused of misrepresentation in her COC for saying that she is a Filipino national but is actually a Chinese citizen.
“Because of our experience in Tarlac, we admit that we cannot be stricter in the filing of COCs. However, we must remain proactive,” he said.
“In order for us to not be caught by surprise by these candidates and their qualifications, we can now be more informed,” he also said.
The poll chief said they are hopeful that the availability of the COCs online will encourage the filing of petitions against aspirants with questionable qualifications.
“You can immediately file your petitions to cancel or deny due course to their candidacies,” he said.
POLL DEBATES
Following the incompleted “PiliPinas Debates 2022,” Garcia said the poll body is open to holding election debates anew in time for the May 2025 national and local polls.
But Garcia said it should be media entities that should organize the debates.
“As provided under Republic Act 9006, debates should actually be managed by media entities,” he said, adding that “the Comelec will just be there to supervise and coordinate with the candidates.”
Back in the 2022 elections, the Comelec was forced to cancel the last two of what was supposed to be a five-debate series for vice-presidential and presidential candidates after the Comelec’s private partner, Impact Hub Manila, encountered financial issues with the management of the Sofitel hotel, the venue of the debates.
The poll chief said having electoral debates will be helpful as it will let the people know more about their candidates.
“Discussions will be based on the candidates’ platform, stand on issues, and their principles,” he said.
