By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
THE Commission on Elections said it is ready for the five-day filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections which starts today.
Comelec regional director Renato Magbutay said they are all set for the initial activities like the filing of the certificates of candidacy until Oct. 12 and Oct. 15 to Oct. 17.
“Nakita namo nga peaceful man siguro kita og kung gikinahanglan dili na gani kita magbutang og kuerpo sa kapolisan sulod sa mga Comelec offices as of this time,” he said.
Magbutay said local candidates or any political party can now get copies of the certificates of candidacy forms from various Comelec offices in the municipalities and cities in the region.
“They can also download the COC form from the Comelec website,” he added.
He said anyone interested to seek public office should submit five copies of the COC form during the dates for the filing of the certificates.
“Kinahanglan klarohon gyud sa kandidato kung unsa gayud ang ilang daganan. And make sure that the form that they are submitting is the right form tungod kay kung ma-submit unya dili diay mao ang position, dili na mabawe. You need a formal withdrawal,” he said.
Magbutay said the first application form submitted by a candidate would be the only certificate considered.
“Make sure that they know all the data. All questions in the form should be answered by political aspirants especially on the query if they have pending cases in court. Kung dili nila tubagon then dili namo dawaton iyang application. It should be filled out,” he said.
In another development, Comelec has announced the schedule of activities and listed prohibited acts in connection with the May 13, 2019 elections based on the newly approved Resolution 10249 that sets the election period from Jan. 13 to June 12, 2019.
The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups would run from Feb. 12 to May 11.
Candidates for the House of Representatives and other local positions could campaign from March 29 to May 11.
Candidates are barred from campaigning on the eve of election day. The liquor ban would take effect on May 12 and election day.
The Comelec has also declared a ban against alteration of precincts or establishment of new precincts, carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons, use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, transfer of officers and employees in the civil service and suspension of any elective local officer during the election period.
From Nov. 30 until mid-day of May 13, substitution of an official candidate of political and coalition parties who died or was disqualified is allowed, provided the replacement and the new candidate have the same surnames.
Counting and consolidation of votes are set immediately after the election with the proclamation of winning senators, congressmen, regional, and provincial bets expected to take place between May 17 to 19.
All candidates, whether they win or not, start filing the statements of contributions and expenditures on June 12 next year.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
