Day 1 of COC filing successful, says Jimenez; no incidents noted by PNP

The first day of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the 2019 national and local elections was a success, Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said Thursday, as the Philippine National Police also said that it recorded no incidents related to the event.

"Overall, we think the very first day was successful... In the sense that wala tayong na-encounter na malaking aberya. Nagkaroon tayo ng issue kaninang umaga na may mga kandidatong dumating na wala ang form, pero agad namang na-resolve 'yun. Hopefully, kumalat na 'yung balitang 'yun [and that] people will be careful tomorrow," Jimenez told reporters at Comelec headquarters in Intramuros.

He added that they did not receive any reports of any hiccups from offices across the country. 

"For the most part, mukhang happy naman 'yung mga tao sa naganap sa kanilang mga lugar. These are initial impressions; wala pa tayong actual report ng ating field offices," he said.

As of Thursday, 27 individuals have filed COCs to run as senator, while 18 partylist groups have filed Certificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination, Jimenez said.

Jimenez also said he has not received any information yet from police about untoward or violent incidents.

"We hope that this will constitute a trend that will continue to the last day of filing," he said.

Early filers

Among those who submitted their certificates of candidacy on the first day of filing include: 

• Senator "Koko" Pimentel 
• Freddie Aguilar 
• Samira Gutoc-Tomawis 
• Neri Colmenares
• Willy Ong cardiologist
• Melchor Chavez
• Abner Afuang
• Ibrahim Albani
• Gerald Arcega
• Danilo Roleda 

Pimentel filed his COC under the PDP-Laban.

Aguilar filed under the same party but Pimentel, the party president, denied that the folk singer was a PDP-Laban bet.

Gutoc filed under the Liberal Party while Colmenares is a candidate of the leftist Makabayan bloc.

Danilo Roleda is a candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance.

There were also "colorful" characters among those that filed COCs on Thursday.

They include Daniel Magtira, who claimed to be Kris Aquino's ex-husband; Anson Tuana, who claimed to be Mocha Uson's ex-boyfriend; Salam Tagean, who presented himself as king pf Maharlika; Rolando Merano, who said the World Bank convinced him to run; Christian Castro, who wants to distribute one peso to every needy Filipino; Carmelo Carreo, who submitted a wrong form; and Eric Negapatan, who claimed winning the West Philippine Sea case for the country.

‘Peaceful’

In an interview on GMA Quick Response Team, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said that the first day of COC filing has been generally peaceful.

"Sa kabuuan po, naging peaceful po. Wala pong naging insidente or whatsoever sa mga registration areas. Buong Pilipinas po 'yan," he said.

Albayalde also said that he has ordered police personnel nationwide to secure the areas where certificates of candidacy will be filed.

"Kahapon pa po nagbigay tayo ng direktiba sa mga iba't ibang territorial units natin, mga regional directors natin, na bantayan lahat ng mga registration areas sa kanilang mga jurisdiction," he said.

Albayalde also said that aside from in-depth investigations, the PNP has activated the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) to closely monitor police operations and poll activities in "election hotspots" across the country.

Resolution No. 10429, promulgated on October 1, 2018, sets the Election Period from January 13, 2019 to June 12, 2019. Election Day will be held on May 13, 2019, a Monday. — with a report by Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News