By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

The much-awaited filing of Certificates of Candidacies (COC) for the 497 elective posts for the 2013 elections here start Monday as the local Commission on Election (Comelec) offices accept candidate’s intentions to run from 8:00 to 5:00 PM until October 5. According to the local Comelec, this early information should act as a warning for the main bulk of candidates who have, by history been deadliners. Considering at least two contenders for every position up for grabs, that means, more than a thousand candidates would troop to the Comelec offices in daily batches of 200, estimates tell.

That, in fact is a very conservative.

A list issued by Bohol Comelec through chief Atty. Eliseo Labaria bared that opened local positions for the midterm elections are 3 congressmen, 1 governor, 1 vice governor, 3 first district Board members, 3 second district Board members and 4 third District Board members. Boholanos must also vote for 48 mayors, 48 vice mayors, 10 city council members and some 376 councilors, on the very least from perhaps, thousands of candidates. With this in mind, a daily procession of more than 200 candidates trooping to local Comelec offices in towns, city and the provincial office would be a conservative nnumber, sources at the poll agency said. Even with this, the poll body, in press materials said they would only allow late candidates as soon as they have been documented to be taking the queue towards the Comelec counters at 4:45 on Friday, October 5.

According to Comelec chairman Sixto Brilliantes Jr, in reports, there will definitely be no more extensions unlike then when filing of CoCs went as long as the dead of night for up to about two weeks. In the 2010 barangay elections, filing [oof Cocs} went from October 1-13, but Comelec Chairman Brilliantes Jr. has been quoted saying an extension this time is unlikely. This even as election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has filed a petition for postponement. Brilliantes Jr. accordingly said the election calendar has long been set and a reset would lose for the poll body some precious time it would need to put up the necessary paperwork for the 18,022 national positions up for grabs while it would disrupt the preparations for configuring the ballots and the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machines it would be using on poll day.

This upcoming midterm elections too, Comelec said candidates need to show in person while accomplishing and filing their CoCs, although representations can be allowed after the candidate has authorized in writing a representative, who shall have it sworn and affixed to the Coc. On the other hand, Bohol Comelec information Officer Juvenal Beniga said those submitting their accomplished Coc would need to affix their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), or they would be treated as independent candidates. At the Association of United Development Information Officer’s meeting last week, Beniga also urged candidates to take the opportunity of early filing of COCs or run the risk of losing the singular chance to be voted upon. (30/gg)