Filing of COCs for #BotoNgKabataan2025 starts today

LET the fiesta atmosphere begin!

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opens its doors to candidates running in the 2025 national and local elections as they file their respective certificates of candidacy (COC) starting today, October 1 (Tuesday), until October 8, 2024 (Tuesday). 

The COC filing for candidates in the 2025 national and local elections starts at 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. 

“Handa na po ang inyong Commission on Elections sa filing of certificates of candidacy mula October 1 to 8,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said. 

Don’t bring the entire barangay

However, the chairman had one plea for the aspirants who will file their COCs today: “Ang akin lang pong pakiusap sa filers, sana po bago kayo pumunta, fill-upan niyo na ‘yung mismong forms ng certificate of candidacy.”

He also asked candidates to avoid a fiesta atmosphere wherein the candidates seems to bring the entire barangay so to speak.

Aspirants running for senator and nominated groups for party-lists will file their certificates of candidacy today at the Manila Hotel on Roxas Boulevard. This has been the designated location for filing their papers. 

The procedure of filing

Comelec stated that the poll body established rules for the filing of COCs, indicating that no one may run for senator, member of the House of Representatives, or any local seat until a sworn COC is presented. 

There is a separate table for party-lists to file COCs on the left side of the arena, while the allocated area for senatorial candidates will be on the right.

First, an aspirant will go through a pre-evaluation, during which the candidate must be able to demonstrate his or her complete needs. Once cleared, an aspirant will be able to file their COCs in the designated tables.

COCs must be submitted individually or through a designated representative. Party-list nominations may be filed by the chairperson, president, secretary general, or any authorized representative of the nominating party-list group.

Reminder from Comelec

Garcia further stated that a COC filed with the improper office will be treated as “not filed” or void. A substitution owing to the withdrawal of the original candidate is permitted up until the COC filing deadline. 

While having successfully filed their COCs, aspirants would still not be deemed “candidates” until the first day of campaign starts. Comelec will also not be held accountable if an aspirant has already spent money on their premature campaigns.

“Para sa kalaman ng lahat hindi pa sila kandidato kapag nagfile sila ng certificate of candidacy,” Garcia said.

“Maliwanag naman po na sinabi ng Supreme Court sa kaso ng Penera vs Comelec na sila ay hindi pa kandidato kapag sila ay nag-file ng certificate of candidacy. Sila ay kandidato lang sa unang araw ng campaign period.”

During the COC filing process, an aspirant may have a maximum of three companions. Senatorial candidates can have up to four. 

Comelec can still move their filing schedule in locations affected by Typhoon Julian. However, they will only be given eight days to file their COCs.

What is at stake

The elections will be held on May 12, 2025. A total of 18,271 national and local positions will be up for election.

A total of 12 seats for the senate will be up for election. Senators serve a 6-year term and can be re-elected for up to two consecutive terms. The House of Representatives meanwhile will elect 317 members, with 254 district representatives and 63 party-list representatives. Its responsibilities include approving bills before they are signed into law, initiating impeachment proceedings, and approving franchises.

For local posts, it has 82 governors, 82 vice governors, and 792 provincial board members, along with 149 mayors, 149 vice mayors, and 1,682 councilors in cities.

The tentative list of candidates will be posted on October 29, 2024, and November 8, 2024, is the last day to request ballot corrections.