Comelec: 210 aspirants for national posts, 270 partylist reps file candidacy for Eleksyon 2022

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that 210 aspirants for national posts filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) and 270 partylist representatives filed their certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) after the eight days period.

As of October 8, the poll body said that of those who filed their COCs, 97 are seeking the presidency, 29 the vice presidency, and 176 want to run for senator.

While this year’s COC filing was held without the usual fiesta-like noise due to quarantine restrictions, the entire week was filled with surprises.

On the last day of filing, the PDP-Laban of Cusi faction revealed its standard bearer —Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

Wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) shirt, Dela Rosa filed his COC for the country’s top post, few minutes before Comelec closed the filing period and amid speculations that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will join the presidential race.

Sara heads the HNP, a political alliance that started in Davao as a regional party.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrival at the filing venue at Sofitel Manila was also a highlight of the day.

He came to express support to the senatorial aspirants nominated by the PDP-Laban.

Duterte’s visit was criticized by Senator Nancy Binay, saying Comelec was “unfair” when it gave “special preference” to the president’s allies during the chief executive's arrival.

Apart from big political names, showbiz personalities also appeared during the last day of COC and CONA filing,

Among the stars who submitted documents for their election bids are movie icon Nora Aunor, Karla Estrada, Robin Padilla, and Joed Serrano.

Aunor and Estrada will run as nominees of National Organization for Responsive Advocacies for the Arts and Tingog Partylist, respectively.

Meanwhile, Padilla and Serrano will run for senator.

Comelec has yet to provide the final numbers of filers for local positions.

The latest figures as of 12 p.m. of October 8, are the following:

-466 for seats in the House of Representatives

-165 for gubernatorial posts

-135 for vice gubernatorial posts

-1,274 for Sangguniang Panlalawigan members

-2,909 for mayoral posts

-2,563 for vice mayoral posts

-23,565 Sangguniang Panlungsod/Bayan posts.

Overall, Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said the COC filing for Eleksyon 2022 was successful.

The poll body is now preparing for the period of substitution which will run until November 15,2021.

“From now until November 15, 2021, any aspirant who has a political party may withdraw their COC and may be substituted by a nominee from the same political party,” Maria Norina Tangaro Casingal of Comelec’s Law Department said in a press briefing.

Article IX, Section 77 of  Omnibus Election Code provides that: “If after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, only a person belonging to, and certified by, the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was disqualified.”

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the initial list of candidates is expected by the end of October.

This, however, is subject to change due to substitutions, withdrawals, disqualifications and declaration of nuisance candidates.

“The tentative list of candidates can only be final when we are finished with the ballot templates,” Director John Rex Laudiangco of Comelec's Law Department said.

The elections is scheduled on May 9,2022.—LDF, GMA News