Solons want to postpone COC filing

The House of Representatives, in its session yesterday, passed a resolution urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to postpone the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 2019 elections.

The Comelec has scheduled the filing of COCs on Oct. 1 to 5, 2018.

House Concurrent Resolution 20, filed by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, proposed that the filing of COCs be reset to Oct. 11 to 17.

“Resolved by the House of Representatives the Senate Concurring, to urge the Commission on Elections to reset to Oct. 11 to 17, 2018 from Oct. 1 to 5, 2018 the filing for the certificates of candidacy in connection with the May 13 national and local elections,” the resolution reads.

A concurrent resolution is used for matters affecting the operations of both houses of Congress and must be passed in the same form by both.

Such a resolution is, however, not referred to the President for his signature and does not have the force of law.

Concurrent resolutions are used to fix the time of adjournment of a Congress and to express the “sense of Congress” on an issue.

The House leaders said this is important so that the lawmakers can fully attend to their legislative duties and file their respective certificates of candidacy later.

The House leaders said the House of Representatives is currently deliberating on the 2019 proposed General Appropriations Act and other priority measures that require their “utmost undivided attention” and noted that they shall hold their session only until Oct. 12 before its recess.

Meantime, Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said the COCs should be signed and notarized, must be filed in five copies with the aspiring candidate’s thumbprint, passport-sized ID, documentary stamps, with the original copies of the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA).

He said the COC and the CONA forms can be downloaded from the Comelec website.

Those who are running for governor, vice-governor, provincial board member, and congressman in the province (except those in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu) can file their COCs at the Provincial Capitol, specifically on the second floor of the Legislative Building.

Those running for positions in the municipalities can file their COCs in their local Comelec.

Castillano said the COC, if not filed personally, may be done by an authorized person with a notarized document.

He said an incomplete COC will not be accepted. However, a candidate can still comply with the lacking requirements within the COC filing period.

“Mao nay nakanindot kung sayo ka mo-file (That’s the good thing if you file early),” said Castillano.

There are no prohibitions during the filing period, but premature campaigning is not allowed.

He is also reminding the public that by Sept. 28, political parties should submit the list of authorized signatories and specimen signatures to the Law Department.