Candidates for next year’s national and local elections will start filing their certificates of candidacies (COC) on Thursday which will signal the expected political fireworks up to the municipal level.
Prov’l Supervisor Ely Labaria of the Commission on Elections encouraged the prospective candidates to file early to avoid the deadline rush since it will just be a one-week period for the acceptance of their COCs.
Reports reaching the Chronicle bared that Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. already confirmed to run for governor under the Nacionalista Party (NP). A highly placed source said Evasco who is a former priest was supposed to meet with Bohol church leaders last Friday but failed to arrive due to conflict of schedules in Manila.
However, his trusted aides arrived but did not issue any statement to the media.
An information leaked to the Chronicle last Tuesday bared that Sec. Evasco met with business tycoon Danding Cojuangco of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) presumably to get the “blessing” for him to run for governor. There is still also that possibility that Evasco will be filing under the NPC and not NP.
The same source said that Evasco will have another person to file for governor while he will just do a substitution within the period allowed by law. His running mate is not definite for now, as Board Member Tommy Abapo, Jr. who was mentioned by Evasco said he is not interested in the post citing logistical requirements.
The name of former Vice. Gov, Julius Herrera surfaced but again, there was no categorical confirmation by the Calape-born official, younger brother of the late Boholano Sen. Ernesto “Boy” Herrera.
Meanwhile, the tandem of last termers Rep. Art Yap and Rep. Rene Relampagos is persistently surfacing under the Padayon Bola-non group. Yap is a new member of PDP-Laban while Relampagos is under the coalition of the Liberal Party. The group will be having last termer Gov. Edgar Chatto to run for congressman in the first district. Rep. Yap will endorse retired Judge Carlos Fernandez to be his congressional bet in the third district, The second district remains to be open to anyone interested under their political camp.
For Evasco’s team, re-electionist Rep. Aris Aumentado is the group’s strong contender for congressman in the second district. No name yet has surfaced for the first district.
Three names surfaced as wanting to be identified with Evasco as congressional bets in the third district, namely Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, former Carmen mayor Che Toribio delos Reyes and Board Member Alexie Tutor.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10429 promulgated on Oct. 1, the campaign period for those running for senatorial seats and party-list groups is from Feb. 12 to May 11.
Meanwhile, the campaign period for members of the House of Representatives as well as regional, provincial, city, and municipal bets will be from March 29 to May 11.
It noted that campaigning is prohibited on April 18, 2019 (Holy Thursday) and April 19, 2019 (Good Friday).
The period for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) of all candidates in the forthcoming elections will be from Oct. 11 to 17, except on Oct. 13 (Saturday) and Oct. 14 (Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Comelec, however, explained that those planning to run for national positions should file their COCs at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila while those seeking for local positions should be filed at the poll body offices in their city or municipality.
The period to file Certificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination for party-list groups is also set to run from Oct. 11-12 and Oct. 15-17.
The Comelec added that campaigning is prohibited on the eve of Election Day (May 12) and on Election Day.
The election period for the May 2019 midterm polls will be from January 13 to June 12.
During the said period, the commission prohibits the following: alteration of precincts or establishment of new precincts; carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons; use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates; transfer of officers and employees in the civil service; and suspension of any elective local officer.
Starting Nov. 30, 2018 until noon of Election Day, the substitute of an official candidate of a political party or coalition, who died or was disqualified by final judgment, may file their COC, provided that the substitute candidate and the substituted candidate have the same surname.
Counting and consolidation of votes will be conducted immediately after the casting of votes.
The Comelec resolution added that proclamation of winning senators, congressmen, regional, and provincial bets is projected to take place between May 17 to 19.