More candidates for the senatorial, mayoral and congressional posts submitted their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila during the second day of filing on Friday, October 12.
During the filing of COCs, which will run from October 11 to 17, not including weekends, the public will be focused on the candidates who will grace the headquarters.
This week-long event is usually deemed as cinematic since many of the candidates are celebrities themselves, or if not, have celebrity relatives or supporters. All eyes are on them as they file their COCs in front of lights and cameras.
A little over 18,000 national and local positions will be made available in the midterm elections on May 13, 2019. As such, the election commission eyes 61 million registered voters for the 2019 elections, 5 percent higher than the 58 million voters in 2016.
On Friday, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay filed her COC, accompanied by her brother, former Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. The 45-year-old senator hails from the political party United National Alliance (UNA).
Another prominent personality that graced the halls of Palacio del Gobernador is the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Cops watched by the gates as their former chief filed his CoC inside.
The former police chief is vying for a senatorial position, vowing to reinstate death penalty should he win the midterm polls. He emphasized the necessity of implementing capital punishment in haltin g the proliferation of smuggled drugs.
“Malaking deterrence ‘yan, talagang matakot sila magdala ng drugs niyan, kung may death penalty tayo (It will be a big deterrence, they will really be scared to bring drugs if we have the death penalty),” Dela Rosa said as reported by Rappler.
The former police chief emphasized his desire to be in public service. He noted that he will focus on security and corrections.
“Gustong-gusto ko magserbisyo. I am too young to retire. Alam ko malakas pa ako, kaya ko pa magserbisyo sa taong bayan (I really want to serve. I am too young to retire. I know I am still strong, I can still be of service to my countrymen),” the former PNP chief said.
“God willing, if I’m lucky, I’ll focus on law enforcement, safety and security, peace and order, and of course, corrections,” he added.
Presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte also filed his COC as Davao City First District Representative.
Other personalities that filed their COCs were lawyer Larry Gadon, Tindig Pilipinas bets – Gary Alejano, Chel Diokno and Samira Gutoc Tomawis and Gabriela party-list bets – Arlene Brosas, Baiali Indayla and Lucy Francisco.
Comelec offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until October 17. The campaign period for senator and party-list groups will be from February 12 to May 11 while for candidates of the House of Representatives, regional, provincial, city and municipal positions will be from March 30 to May 11.
Political campaigning is banned on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The commission set the election period from January 13 until June 12, 2019.
