• GILBERT P. BAYORAN / CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
All is set for the Commission on Elections to accept documents from candidates in Negros Occidental, for the filing of their Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) for the 2025 midterm elections, from October 1 to 8, which is traditionally held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria yesterday said that the provincial Comelec office will accept COCs from candidates for congressman, governor, vice governor, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, while candidates for mayor, vice mayor, and councilor will be filed at city and municipal election offices, even on Saturdays and Sundays.
While the filing of COC should be personally done by candidates, Ananoria said they will accept duly authorized representatives, on behalf of the candidates who have a valid reason for not being able to do so.
He reminded candidates to prepare original five copies of the CoC, duly notarized, including Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) if they are affiliated with a political party.
BACOLOD TRANSFER
The Comelec Bacolod Field Office will be transferring temporarily to the Liga ng mga Barangay social hall in preparation for the October filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the 2025 midterm elections.
Acting Bacolod Election Officer Revo Sorbito said yesterday that in preparation for the filing of COC from October 1 to 8, they have already requested for the transfer of venue to the social hall of the Liga ng mga Barangay Office along San Juan Street.
Sorbito said that due to the limited space of the social hall, they will have to limit the number of supporters who will be accompanying their candidates during the filing, which starts from 8 a.m. to 5.p.m.
Meanwhile, Sorbito said that after the filing of COC, they will then transfer to the temporary office of Comelec at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Brgy. 14 once its renovation is completed.
However, they will be permanently transferring to the Bacolod City Hall along Araneta-Luzuriaga streets once its renovation has been completed, he added.
SIGNATORIES
On the other hand, the leaders of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Negros Occidental have agreed to split the signatories of the CoC of official candidates as the filing looms near
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that incumbent Representative Gerardo Valmayor Jr. will sign the CoCs of candidates in the 1st district, while he will sign the CoCs of those running in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th district, including Bacolod City.
For the 5th district, Lacson said incumbent Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla will sign the CoCs, while incumbent Rep. Mercedes Alvarez will sign for those in the 6th district, and former Mayor Isidro Zayco will sign for those running in Kabankalan City only, he added.
Meanwhile, Ananoria said that as far as funfare is concerned, it will be allowed during the filing of CoCs, as long as it will not disturb the Comelec proceedings.
He also stressed that there will be no more extension to the registration of new voters, which will end on September 30.
Ananoria added that they will come up with the final figure of voters that can participate in the elections in May next year, after the hearing of the Election Registration Board on October 14.*
