Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Ma. Fatima Aspan said Wednesday, September 29, that there should be no fanfare and cheering squads during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) starting Friday, October 1, until October 8.
Persons accompanying a candidate should only be limited to nine or less as a precaution against COVID-19, she said.
The filing of COCs for congressional and provincial bets will be held at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City to allow more room for social distancing, she added.
Candidates filing their COCs will be accommodated on a first-come-first-serve basis, Aspan said.
The Negros Occidental provincial government officials running under the Love Negros-United Negros Alliance coalition will be filing their COCs on Friday.
The coalition’s candidates for the third district will file their COCs from 8 to 9 a.m., fourth district – 9 to 10 a.m., second district – 10 to 11 a.m., fifth district – 11 a.m. to noon, first district – 1 to 2 p.m., sixth district – 2 to 3 p.m., and 3 to 4 p.m. for the governor and vice governor.
It is not known yet who will file COCs to challenge the coalition bets.*