MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said official candidates of political parties who failed to submit their Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) during the five-day filing period will be considered independent bets.
According to Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, candidates and parties have been informed about the last day of filing of CONA.
“That’s their lookout because they were told of the deadline way in advance,” Guanzon said in an interview Monday.
Based on existing rules, “(a candidate) whose CONA was filed after the last day of filing of COC” is considered an independent bet.
Guanzon noted that the poll body will no longer accept late filers.
“We cannot allow that anymore. Just to be fair to everyone, the rule will apply to all parties,” Guanzon added.
The statement was issued after there were some candidates who attempted to file CONAs after the end of the filing period for Certificates of Candidacy (COC) last week.
“There were parties which filed their CONAs late in the provinces,” she said.
A CONA is a document required to be submitted by those who file a COC claiming nomination from a political party or coalition.
The COC filing period ended on October 17. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
