The Commission on Elections will require national candidates to present a negative RT-PCR test result before they will be allowed to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) in October.
In Resolution 10717 released on Aug. 20, the poll body said it will only accept COCs from candidates in the presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial positions who will present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within the last 24 hours prior to the filing of COC.
“Pursuant to the guidelines issued by the national government, Inter-Agency Task Force, and local government units concerned, the following measures shall be observed at all times in the filing of COC: For aspirants for the positions of president, vice president, and senator, RT-PCR test or antigen test taken within the last 24 hours prior to the filing of COC, indicating a negative result shall be required,” it said.
Others required to present negative Covid-19 test results are the authorized representative of the aspirants, representative of the groups for the party-list system, their companions, Comelec personnel in charge of receiving COCs, security personnel, and members of the media.
The Comelec is only allowing a maximum of three people to accompany national candidates in filing their COCs.
For other positions, local candidates are only allowed two people to accompany them in the submission of their COCs.
Those running in national positions including party-list representative may file their COCs at the Comelec Law Department or in any other venue that may be designated by the Commission en Banc.
For candidates for legislative districts in the National Capital Region, they may submit their COCs at the Office of the Regional Director.
For candidate for legislative districts in provinces, they may go to the Office of Provincial Elections Supervisor.
For candidates for legislative districts in cities outside the NCR, which comprise one or more legislative districts, they can file their COCs at the Office of the City Election Officer designated for the purpose by the Regional Elections Director.
Candidates for governor, vice governor, and sangguniang panlalawigan members should file at the Office of Provincial Elections Supervisor while candidates for mayor, vice mayor in the cities with more than one election officer, the COCs can be filed at the Office of the City Elections Officer concerned designated for the purpose by the Regional Elections Director.
For candidates of members of the sangguniang panlungsod in cities with more than one election officer, the filing will be at the Office of the City Elections Officer of the district concerned.
For candidates for mayor, vice mayor, and sangguniang panlungsod members in cities with only one legislative district, the COCs can be filed at the Office of the City Elections Officer while aspirants for municipal mayor, municipal vice mayor, and sangguniang bayan, the filing will be at the Office of Municipal Elections Officer.
For those running as members of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, COCs will be accepted at the Office of the Regional Elections Director in Cotabato City, Marawi City, and Zamboanga City.
The filing of COC will be from Oct. 1 to 8. – PNA
April 26, 2024
