The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded all appointive officials who will file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on October 1 to 8 for the 2025 elections that they will be deemed resigned.
However, party-list nominees are deemed resigned only on the first day of the campaign period, February 11. This is because the Supreme Court ruled that those running are not the nominees themselves but rather the organizations or political parties they belong to.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia also reminded political aspirants to follow the guidelines set by the poll body for filing COCs, saying the body will be strict about the number of companions that COC filers can bring.
“We will be strict on limiting who can. The commission’s rule will apply to all, and no one will be exempted regardless of their status or current position in the government,” Garcia said.
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 11045 issued in August, senatorial aspirants will be allowed to bring a maximum of four companions, while those seeking the other elective offices at the national and local levels can bring three persons with them.
Meanwhile, Comelec will publish on its website the COCs filed by electoral aspirants two weeks after filing. Candidates’ personal data will be redacted from the COCs before being posted online.
“We will release it to the public so that the public can know who you are, if you are qualified, and if you are a citizen of the country,” Garcia said.
