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Comelec eyes earlier COC filing for 2028 polls


Comelec eyes earlier COC filing for 2028 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to propose to move the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2028 presidential elections from October to the last week of July.

On Monday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said this would provide ample time both for the poll body to resolve nuisance cases, and for aspirants to elevate their cases to the Supreme Court (SC).

“Naisip namin na sa 2028 elections, mas maaga ang filing of candidacies. Sa halip na October, pag-isipin na natin na July kasi total hindi pa naman sila kandidato,” Garcia told reporters.

(We are eyeing to move the COC filing from October to July.)

“Kung July mag-file, madaming panahon kami para i-resolve ang kaso at mas mahaba ang panahon para makapunta sa Supreme Court ang mga ‘di papalarin sa decision sa amin,” he said.

(If the COC filing is in July, there will be enough time for the poll body to resolve cases and for the aspirants to elevate their case to the SC.)

The Comelec earlier conducted a trusted build for the automated election system (AES) to establish an “add” feature that would allow the system to include an additional eight names in the official ballots.

This is in accordance with separate Supreme Court (SC) rulings that stopped the disqualification of ex-Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, and other bets for the 2025 May elections.

The reprinting of the 73 million ballots for this year’s polls will commence on Wednesday, January 22. The Comelec started the ballot printing January 6.

“We have to print whether in the morning or afternoon. We have to proceed with the printing of the ballots by Wednesday at all costs,” Garcia said.

It can be recalled six million printed ballots, with a printing cost of around P132 million, were put to waste following the issuance of a temporary restraining order by SC against the disqualification of several local bets in the May 12 midterm polls.

For his part, Garcia allayed fears of insufficient budget, saying the costs of the reprinting would be utilized from the contingency funds of the commission. He also said the Comelec is set to issue a resolution deputizing the National Printing Office (NPO) and allowing the use of its four printing machines to expedite the process.

The poll body began transporting the six million wasted ballots to a warehouse in Laguna's Sta. Rosa City for proper disposal last week.

The Comelec opted for paper melting after the National Archives of the Philippines prohibited the use of micro-shredding for recycling. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News