Filing of COCs for 2025 poll begins

MANILA, Philippines — A fiesta-like atmosphere is expected to prevail in various parts of the country today until Oct. 8, as aspirants troop to areas designated by the Commission on Elections to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2025 midterm elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said it’s all systems go for the filing of COCs for those vying for over 18,000 posts at stake in next year’s elections.

Garcia said the Comelec will accept all COC forms as long as these are properly accomplished, notarized and with documentary stamps.

“I’m saying this again: you can find in our website the list of venues in the entire Philippines where you can file your COCs. Please check them and be guided,” Garcia said in Filipino.

He reminded those wishing to run in 2025 to first properly accomplish their COC forms before proceeding to designated venues and limit to three the number of companions.

He said forms not properly accomplished or submitted in the wrong venue shall be considered invalid.

Those endorsed by political parties must also submit a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) along with their COC or else they shall be considered independent candidates.

According to Garcia, the Comelec has the ministerial duty to accept all COCs even those with pending cases or other issues.

“We have no choice or discretion to refuse submissions. But if a candidate manages to run or if his name is included in the ballot, that’s another story,” he pointed out.

But he stressed the Comelec will disallow aspirants deemed perpetually disqualified from holding public office as ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said the Comelec may cancel or deny due course to any COC or even declare aspirants as “nuisance” and their names excluded from the list of official candidates.

Before Nov. 30, Garcia said the commission will decide who among the aspirants shall be considered nuisance.

The commission also hopes to finalize its list of cancelled COCs before the start of the printing of ballots in December.

In the absence of premature campaigning, the commission is powerless in stopping aspirants from mounting their own political stunts or gimmick.

“Since there’s