The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting a huge number of political candidates who will file their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 national and local elections, which officially starts on October 1 (Tuesday) until next week October 8, 2024.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body laid down the guidelines for the filing of COCs, saying that no person can run for senator, member of the House of Representatives or any local position unless a sworn COC has been submitted.
COCs must be filed by the aspirants themselves or through an authorized representative while, for party-lists, it can be filed either by the chairperson, president, secretary general or any authorized representative of the nominating party-list group.
During the filing of the COC, an aspirant will be allowed to have a maximum of three companions. Those running for the senatorial race can have a maximum of four.
Garcia said a COC filed with the incorrect office shall be deemed as “not filed” or invalidated. A substitution due to withdrawal of the original candidate is allowed only until the last day of filing of COC.
For party-list groups, a certificate of nomination and certificate of acceptance of nomination shall also be filed from Oct. 1 to 8. Each sectoral party, organization or coalition shall submit 10 nominees from which the party-list representative shall be chosen.
Substitutions beyond Oct. 8 are only allowed in case of death and disqualification of the original aspirant. “No substitute shall be allowed for an independent candidate,” Garcia added.
An aspirant of a duly registered political party who died or is disqualified may be substituted by a candidate belonging to and nominated by the same political party or coalition.
