Filing of COCs to begin on Oct. 1 – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — In preparation for the coming May 9, 2022, elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the schedule for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), which has been set for Oct. 1 to Oct. 8.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10695, which was promulgated on Wednesday but released on the commission’s official website on Saturday, the poll body said COCs could be submitted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, including Saturday and Sunday.

The official election period has been set from Jan. 9, 2022, to June 8, 2022, with the campaign period for national positions set for Feb. 8, 2022, to May 7, 2022. National positions include president, vice president, senators and party list groups.

On the other hand, the campaign period for local positions has been set from March 25, 2022, to May 7, 2022. Local positions include House of Representatives members, regional, provincial, city and municipal officers.

However, campaigning is prohibited on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday—April 14 and April 15, 2022, respectively.

The Comelec has also listed prohibited activities, including a gun ban during the entire election period and a liquor ban from May 8, 2022 to May 9, 2022.

Campaigning on the eve of Election Day until Election Day itself is also prohibited.

Also prohibited are the giving or accepting of free transportation, food or drinks, or things of value; soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against a candidate or any political party in the polling place or within 30 meters thereof; opening of booths or stalls within a 30-m radius from the polling place; and holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or any other similar sports.

The Comelec has also scheduled overseas absentee voting from April 10, 2022, to May 9, 2022. Registered overseas voters can cast their votes in Philippine embassies, consulates and other foreign posts.

On Saturday, the Comelec also set the schedule for new overseas voters.

The Comelec said Filipinos expected to be overseas from April 10, 2021, to May 9, 2022, could register as overseas voters. Deadline to file applications as overseas voters is on Sept. 30.

The Comelec added that those at least 18 years of age by Election Day, but will not be registered in the Philippines to vote for the one-month period before the 2022 elections are eligible to vote overseas.