Congress wants to postpone filing of COCs

THE House of Representatatives, in its session Monday, September 10, 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 October 1 to 5, 2018.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, filed Monday by House Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo and House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, proposed that the filing of COCs be reset to October 11 to 17.

“Resolved by the House of Representatives the Senate Concurring, to urge the Commission on Elections to reset to October 11 to 17, 2018 from October 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 do 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 imperative so that the lawmakers can fully attend to their legislative duties and file for their respective certificates of candidacy.

The House leaders stated that the House of Representative 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 October 12 before its recess.