FILE PHOTO: Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia recommends the publication of Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) on the poll body’s website. In a memorandum dated June 14, 2024, and addressed to the Comelec en banc, Garcia noted that posting the COCs and CONAs on the website will promote strengthened election transparency. According to Garcia, the publication of COCs and CONAs was not mandated by the poll body before. Garcia’s recommendations are subject to the approval of the Comelec en banc. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo
SUBIC BAY, Zambales — Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia recommended the publication of Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) on the poll body’s website.
In a memorandum dated June 14, 2024, and addressed to the Comelec en banc, Garcia noted that posting the COCs and CONAs on the website will promote strengthened election transparency.
“The undersigned respectfully recommends the posting on the website of the Commission on Elections of all Certificates of Candidacy (COC) and, in applicable cases, the corresponding Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) received for the 2025 National and Local Elections and all subsequent elections within two (2) weeks from the last day of filing of COCs,” Garcia’s Memorandum No. 2024-0822 states.
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According to Garcia, the publication of COCs and CONAs was not mandated by the poll body before.
He then stressed that his recommendation could give the public easy access to COCs and CONAs and “ensure that candidates will be held accountable [for] the pieces of information” they provided and testified in these certificates.
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Garcia further recommended that Comelec’s Law Department and Information and Technology Department be instructed to draft guidelines for the posting of the COCs and CONAs on the website.
Garcia’s recommendations are subject to the approval of the Comelec en banc.