MANILA, Philippines – Starting Monday, October 12, aspirants for elective positions formalize their intentions to run in the May 2016 general elections.
All eyes will be on the offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as national and local bets file their certificates of candidacy (COC).
General guidelines
The period of filing of COCs is from October 12 to 16, from 8 am to 5 pm. For national candidates, only up to 3 guests can accompany them when they file their COCs at the Comelec headquarters in Manila, said the poll body.
The COC should be accomplished in 5 copies and personally filed by the candidate or through a duly-authorized representative. It should also be sworn to before a notary public or any official authorized to administer oath. There is no filing fee.
COC forms are available at the Comelec offices or can be downloaded from the Comelec website.
Aspirants should attach a passport-size photograph taken within the last 6 months, a bio-data, and his/her program of government not exceeding 100 words.
A candidate can run for only one elective office.
Candidates “who are dual citizens” should declare in their COCs that they have renounced their foreign citizenship, in accordance with a recent Comelec resolution.
Meanwhile, the ongoing voters’ registration for the 2016 polls will be temporarily suspended to give way to the filing of COCs.
Where to file COCs
| Elective Position | Where to File |
| President, Vice President, or Senator | Comelec Law Department Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila |
| District representatives in the National Capital Region (NCR) | Office of the Regional Election Director, Comelec-NCR 2/F FEMII Bldg. Don Andres Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila |
| - District representatives in provinces - Provincial governor, vice governor, or board member | Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor concerned |
| - District representatives of cities outside NCR - Mayor, vice mayor, or councilor of cities with more than one election officer | Office of the City Election Officer concerned, as designated by the Regional Election Director |
| City/municipal officials | Office of the City/Municipal Election Officer |
| ARMM Governor or Vice Governor | Office of the ARMM Regional Election Director in Cotabato City, Zamboanga City, or Marawi City |
| ARMM Regional Assemblyman | Office of the ARMM Provincial Election Supervisor concerned |
Any COC filed with the incorrect office shall be deemed not filed.
The Comelec has likewise issued guidelines in case there would still be filers present at the Comelec offices within the last 15 minutes of the last day of filing. – Rappler.com