NAGA CITY, Oct. 26 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Camarines Sur has concluded the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the slots among different posts in the province and this city in the upcoming 2016 national and local elections.
Comelec Camarines Sur spokesperson Alexander Marpuri and this city's election officer Atty. Maico Julia, Jr., who served as guests of the FORUM@PIA held October 19, Monday at the lobby of Firande Square here annunced to the media that updated list of provincial and city aspirants who will be running for the local posts this coming 2016 Election is complete.
In this city, the list of candidates who filed their Certificates of Candidacy for mayor are: incumbent Mayor John G. Bongat (LP), Fortunato P. Mendoza (IND), and Luis A. Ortega (IND). For vice-mayor: incumbent Vice-Mayor Nelson M. Legacion (LP), Joaquin M. Calleja, Jr. (IND), and Nathan A. Sergio (IND). For city councilors, 22 have filed their candidacy with ten (10) from the Liberal Party (LP), seven (7) from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and five (5) as Independent (IND) candidates.
For the provincial governor of Camarines Sur post, the candidates are: incumbent Governor Miguel R. Villafuerte (NP), Roger A. Buenaflor (KBL), and Arnulfo Bryan B. Fuentebella (UNA). For vice-governor, there are only two (2) candidates: incumbent Vice-Governor Fortunato C. Peῆa (LP) and the newbie, Atty. Remelisa G. Alfelor-Moraleda (UNA). For the provincial board members, a total of 21 candidates filed their COCs for the 5 districts broken down as follows: 1st District -3, 2nd District-4, 3rd District-4, 4th District -4, and 5th District -6.
For the congressional seat, a total of twelve (12) candidates filed their COCs: 1st District-3, 2nd District-2, 3rd District-2, 4th District-3, and 5th District-2.
The two Comelec officials clarified that the filing of the COC does not mean that a filer is already considered an official candidate.
According to Marpuri, the COC is still evaluated by the Law Department in Manila, reason why it is up to December 10, 2015 as the date to consider that all candidates will be submitted to the National Printing Office (NPO) for the printing of Ballots. Comelec main office should have the final list of the candidates from the national positions down to the local positions by December 10.
“December 10 is the date to recon, specially, if there are candidates who wish to withdraw. The substitution should not be filed after December 10. So, if there’s one who will substitute or withdraw, it should be on or before December 10, so that the COMELEC will have to complete the list for submission to NPO,” Marpuri elaborated.
Marpuri also briefed the media regarding the continuing registration and other election-related issues.
At the Forum, Marpuri also explained that the 2016 Elections is still automated, but will no longer be using the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machines because the 82,000 units of the said machines are under repair.
“The one that we will use for the 2016 is an Optical Mark Reader (OMR) and it’s called Voting Machines (VM). The OMR will replace the PCOS machine. It has the same technology, the same manufacturer, but is different, smaller than the PCOS machine, but it is upgraded with added feature. We are upgrading the Elections as far as technology is concerned. The PCOS may be used in the 2022 Elections,” Marpuri said.
Forum@PIA is a program of PIA-Camarines Sur which aims to equip the community with updated information regarding various concerns that would be beneficial to the greatest interest of the public. (MAL/LSM/JRM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)