| Provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) Supervisor Jessie Suarez has appealed to candidates for the 2010 elections to avoid the rush and file their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) early starting today. The Comelec will accept CoCs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until November 30 and from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight of December 1, Suarez said. Those who would like to run for Governor, Vice Governor, Board Member and congressman should file their COCs at the Provincial Comelec Office while those who will run for Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilor or Sangguniang Bayan Member should file their COCs at their respective City or Municipal Comelec Offices, Suarez said. The candidates should secure their COCs at the Comelec offices and that they need to fill up 5 copies of the COCs for the national Come-lec office and the local office. It should have a documentary stamp and should be duly notarized, Suarez further stressed. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the early filing is part of preparations for the automation of the 2010 elections, specifically in the printing of special paper ballots that will contain the pre-printed names of local and national candidates. Each ballot can contain 600 names and will contain ovals opposite the candidate’s names that will be shaded by the individual to indicate a vote. The campaign period for the local bets will start on March 26, 2010 up to May 8, 2010 and from Feburary 9, 2010 up to May 8, 2010 for the national candidates. Rafael Rafanan, Comelec Legal Officer said the poll body will also coordinate with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to register candidates who will file CoCs as withholding tax agents of their campaign expenses under Revenue Resolution 8-2009. Comelec will accommodate BIR representatives who will setup booths for registration of candidates as tax agents, said Rafanan.* By Teresa Ellera-Dulla
NDB | 
