WITH 43,033 certificates of candidacy (COCs) and 190 certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs) filed during the eight-day period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday declared the filing period for the May 2025 national and local polls as being “generally peaceful”.
In a press briefing, Comelec chairman George Garcia made the assessment despite the reported shooting incident in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur.
“It is very generally peaceful. The single incident in one town does not reflect the entire conduct of the COC filing nationwide. The COC filing in the entire country is so peaceful and orderly,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the incident, which involved political rivals, saw five people injured with no deaths.
“This is the lone incident that tainted our COC filing activities,” he said.
The PNP, in a report, said one of the supporters of a mayoral candidate died during the shooting incident.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the PNP is conducting a thorough investigation on the incident, which occurred near the town hall.
She said policemen who rushed to the scene were also fired upon. Fortunately, no one was reported hurt on the side of the policemen.
Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has ordered police units to intensify efforts to maintain peace and order in areas where there are intense political rivalries.
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla yesterday said he wants “zero casualty” during the national and local elections in May next year.
“Our aim zero casualty for 2025,” Remulla told reporters as he formally assumed as interior secretary, replacing Benjamin Abalos Jr who resigned to run for senator.
Remulla, a former Cavite governor, recalled some of the measures that the provincial government adopted to ensure peace and order in past elections in Cavite.
“What I did was each and every candidate for mayor are always accompanied by mobile patrol vehicle,” said Remulla, but clarified that the policemen did not serve as bodyguards of the candidates.
Remulla said he is not sure if this can be replicated in next year’s elections, given the limitations of the police force.
“Maybe we can do same, but I don’t know if mobility is possible. But we will enlist the help of all agencies of government to make (the elections) as peaceful as possible,” he said.
As to the hotspots, Remulla said they are looking at areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija and Palawan.
“Those are premature, just off the cuff assessments. We will get into a definite list in the next few weeks because the filing (of COCs) ended just yesterday (Tuesday). We will give a definite list afterwards,” he said.
TOTAL FILERS
Garcia said there were 43,033 individuals who are looking to run for elective posts, ranging from senators, congressmen, governors, and mayors, among others, in the May 2025 polls.
Comparatively, he said this is lower than the 47,583 aspirants and the 44,801 COC filers in the 2022 and 2019 elections, respectively.
Among party-list organizations, the Comelec said 190 CONAs will participate in the coming electoral exercise.
This is lower than the 270 CONAs filed in the 2022 elections, but higher than the 185 filed in 2019.
Garcia said the Comelec law department is set to begin screening the COCs that were filed, ans is targeting to come out with the final list of candidates by December.
The list would include those with perpetual disqualification cases and those who can be considered as nuisance bets.
“We have until December 13 to come out with the final list of candidates,” he said.
On the other hand, the official urged the public, including election rivals, to file the petitions to deny due course/cancellation or disqualification of warranted.
“Our rules provide that they only have 25 days to file such petitions,” Garcia said, saying they need to hasten the finalization of the official candidates prior to the start of the printing of the official ballots.
PARTY-LIST GROUPS
Meanwhile, Garcia said five party-list organizations submitted their Manifestations of Intent to Participate and were accredited by the Comelec but failed to file their CONAs.
They are Smile, Act as One, Kasama, Marino and STL.
“Of the 160 party-lists we were expecting, there were 155 that filed their (CONAs). Because of this, there will only be 155 party-lists that will be included in the official ballots,” said Garcia.
On the other hand, he said four party-lists have multiple sets of nominees that were submitted with their CONAs. They are ABP, AKO OFW, Magsasaka and Babae Ako.
“The Comelec will have to resolve these intra-party intramurals first. We must be able to determine their rightful nominees,” Garcia said.
PHILIPPINE ARMY
The leadership of the Philippine Army yesterday told its 110,000 personnel throughout the country to remain apolitical in the national and local elections in May next year.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said: “As the filing of certificates of candidacy has concluded, the Philippine Army assures the Filipino people of its commitment to protect the sanctity of the electoral process.”
“We also remind all our personnel to remain non-partisan in strict adherence to our constitutional mandate,” added Dema-ala.
Some Army officers have been linked to partisan political activities in past elections, particularly during the 2004 presidential elections as evidenced by the “Hello Garci” tapes.
“The Philippine Army will maintain the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and integrity as it looks forward to safe, orderly, and peaceful elections in 2025,” said Dema-ala. — With Victor Reyes
