ELECTION SEASON, GUN BAN NOW ON
Election period starts smoothly, but few aspirants declare their candidacy on the first day in Cebu. Comelec warns against premature campaigning, including the use of social media.
197 persons filed their certificates of candidacy in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue on Day 1 of the process; Cebu City North District Election Officer Atty. Enerio Ocariza Jr. says most aspirants were excited the polls are finally pushing through
More than a hundred political aspirants from different barangays in Cebu City filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday.
One of those “early birds” was an 84-year-old man who wants to run for barangay councilman of Budlaan.
Dionisio Muñeza, 84, said he decided to run because he has been doing good things in his lifetime and he wants his neighbors to remember that.
“I’m just having fun and I just really want to run and serve,” he told reporters.
Yesterday was the first day of the filing of COCs for the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
A total of 121 individuals filed their COCs yesterday in Cebu City.
In the north, 75 candidates filed their COCs: four aspiring barangay captains, 41 for barangay councilors, four for SK chairperson and 26 for SK councilor.
In the south district, 46 filed their COCs: five for barangay captain, 35 aspiring barangay councilors, four for SK chairperson and two for SK councilor.
Ramon Chiong of Barangay Kalunasan, who wants to serve as a councilman, was the first one to arrive and file his COC before the Comelec south district yesterday.
Some current barangay officials also filed their COCs.
Sirao Barangay Councilor Flaviano Gabunada Jr., who filed his COC for barangay captain, and his whole slate filed their COCs.
Buhisan Barangay Councilor Israel Bacarisas, who will run for barangay captain, and his whole slate were also among the early ones who filed COCs.
Busay Barangay Councilor Eleodoro “Yody” Sanchez, who will be running for barangay captain along with Barangay Captain Amilo Lopez, who will be running for councilor, also filed their COCs.
Excited
In an interview, Cebu City Comelec North District Acting Election Officer Atty. Enerio Ocariza Jr. said he expected that more candidates would troop to their offices during the first day of the filing after the series of postpone- ments of the barangay polls.
“They’re very excited that the election will push through. It’s also better to file early and avoid the rush during the last day,” he said.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and its 11 police stations did their part by conducting checkpoints at dawn yesterday.
No motorists were caught violating the election gun ban and other prohibitions related to the coming polls.
In Lapu-Lapu City, a total of 74 persons filed their COCs.
However, in Mandaue City, there were only two candidates for who filed their COCs.
Lapu-Lapu Election Officer Ann Janette Lamban said those who want to run for next month’s elections already learned the importance of filing their COC early.
“Gamay ra man gud ang days of filing (mao daghan ni-file karon) (There aren’t so many days to file, so a lot filed today). At least they learned their lesson,” she said.
Lamban explained that there was an incident in the past elections where some persons filed their COCs on the last day, but ended up losing their candidacies because they missed some of the requirements.
The filing of COCs is from April 14 to April 20.
As of 4:45 p.m., there were six candidates for barangay captain, 51 for barangay councilor and 17 for SK members in Lapu-Lapu.
In Mandaue, there was only one candidate for SK member and one candidate for councilor for Barangay Umapad as of 4:20 p.m. yesterday.
Jacqueline Reuyan, election assistant II of Comelec Mandaue, said most of the candidates in Mandaue usually file their COCs a few days before the deadline.
Reuyan added there were aspiring candidates for the barangay elections who visited their office yesterday to ask for a copy of the voters’ list and COC forms.