DAVAO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here received no Certificate of Candidacy (COC) from aspirants for the 2019 midterm elections on the first day of the filing on Thursday.
Comelec’s record was still empty as of 3 p.m. after it opened to receive COCs.
City Election Officer Jerry Mujal said aspirants should avoid filing their COCs at the last minute to spare them from the last-minute rush, as what happened during the deadline of the voters’ registration.
“I advise aspirants not to wait for the last hour,” said Mujal, who is the election officer for the city’s 2nd District.
Still, Mujal assured that Comelec is ready until the final hour of the filing of COC son October 17.
Comelec expects to be inundated with COC filings on Monday, as candidates of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), led by Mayor Inday Sara Z. Duterte, are expected to file their certificates on that day.
The HNP candidates for the 2nd District are scheduled to file their COCs at 1.pm. and those for the 3rd District, at 3 p.m.
The Comelec central office has called on aspirants to help keep the electoral process orderly and dignified.
Earlier, Comelec 11 (Davao) spokesperson, Krisna Caballero, said supporters are not barred from joining their candidates but reminded them that Comelec offices have limited spaces.
Caballero urged supporters to cooperate for the orderly process of COC filing. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
