By Ferdinand G. Patinio
MANILA, Aug. 19 (PNA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said over 18,069 national and local positions , including president and vice president, are up for grabs in the May 9, 2016 national and local polls.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 9982, aside from the top two posts, the other national positions are 12 senatorial seats.
The available local posts are 58 party-list representatives; 235 district congressmen; 81 governors; 81 vice governors; 772 members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 144 city mayors; 144 city vice mayors; 1,610 city councilors; 1,490 municipal mayors; 1,490 municipal vice mayors; 11,924 municipal councilors; one Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor; ARMM vice governor; and 24 ARMM assemblymen.
On the other hand, Comelec Resolution No. 9984 candidates for president, vice president and senators are required to file their respective Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at the Comelec Law Department in Intramuros, Manila while those who will run for congressmen in Metro Manila are asked to file their COCs at the Comelec – National Capital Region also in Manila.
Candidates for congressmen in the provinces as well as provincial officials will submit their COCs at the concerned office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) while, those running as members of the House of Representatives in independent cities, cities and municipalities can file their COCs at their respective office of the city/municipal election officers (Eos).
Those who will run the ARMM namely: governor and vice governor and assemblymen can file their COCs at the office of the Regional Director and at the concerned PES, respectively.
“The COC shall be filed by the aspirant or through a duly-authorized representative with a sworn and signed Authority to File the COC. No COC shall be filed by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile shall be accepted,” said the resolution.
It added that the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) of political parties should be submitted with the COCs of their nominated candidates or else risk their candidates being declared as ïndependent.
As for party-list organizations, the poll body said the names of their nominees shall also be filed at the Law Department from October 12 to 16.
It added that the Certificate of Nomination (CON) of party-list nominees should also be accompanied by the Certificate of Acceptance (COA).
With this, the poll body noted that those that will file COCs and CONs shall be immediately considered as resigned and must vacate their posts on the same day.
“Any person holding a public appointive position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other officers and employees in government-owned and -controlled corporation, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from the office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of the of Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance,” said the resolution.
On the other hand, elected officials will not be deemed resigned from their posts despite filing their COCs.
All the required forms can be acquired at the Comelec offices and can be downloaded from its website, www.comelec.gov.ph. (PNA)