PNP on red alert for COC filing

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) is on red alert status starting today as part of its preparation for the filing of the certificate of candidacy on Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, in a press briefing yesterday, said this is to ensure that police forces are intact, which means all applications for leave are cancelled and police units are directed to conduct more checkpoints.

He added that this is also in preparation for ‘Red October’ or the plan of the opposition and other rebel groups to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We will be on red alert status starting Tuesday, to make sure that the filing of COC is smooth. Additionally dapat on alert pud mi because the dates kay motugma sa Red October, so we are also preparing for that,” he said.

Sinas said that they are also planning to establish a monitoring center to identify the candidates and to fast track the identification of possible election hotspots.

Sinas assured that candidates who are in the drug watchlist will not be named publicly.

“They still have their rights so we will not denounce them but we are urging those in the community na kapag alam niyo na may involvement huwag niyo na iboto,” he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Cebu City, North District situated along Osmeña Boulevard reminded all candidates to file their COC before the said office.

North district election officer Atty. Marchel Sarno told reporters that it has been Comelec’s protocol that his office is tasked to receive all COCs of candidates both from south and north district.

The filing period will be on October 11 to 12 and October 15 to 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sarno said his office has no major preparation for the upcoming filing of COCs since they will just accept and record all the necessary documents submitted by the candidates.

But he reminded the candidates on the guidelines for the filing of COC which states that all copies of documents must be duly notarized by a lawyer with signature and official seal and aspirant’s signature and thumbprint are affixed.

Each copy of the COC must have a recent passportsize identification photo and a documentary stamp must also be affixed on the first copy.

A Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) for aspirant’s belonging to a political party shall be filed simultaneously with the COC.

Each candidate shall prepare at least seven copies of CONA and COC which is mandated under the law.

Sarno said they will not accept an incomplete COC.

Both Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) and Barug Team Rama Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan groups have yet to announce the day that they will file their COCs.

BOPK allied councilor Sisinio Andales said their party is still finalizing their official line up.