The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering moving the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the May 2028 presidential and vice presidential elections to September 2027, ahead of the usual October schedule.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the seven-member commission has discussed holding the filing period from Sept. 20 to 27 next year, although the schedule has yet to be finalized.
“This way, those planning to run are already aware of the dates being considered,” Garcia said in a radio interview.
The proposed earlier filing would give the poll body more time to review COCs and resolve challenges involving candidates and party-list groups before ballots are printed.
“If the filing happens earlier, the COCs can be reviewed sooner. There would be time for anyone wishing to challenge party-list groups, and time for us to resolve such issues,” Garcia said.
He said the move would also help the Comelec address nuisance candidacies and provide candidates declared as nuisance candidates enough time to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.
“We want to eliminate nuisance candidates. If the Comelec declares someone a nuisance candidate early on, they have time to challenge that decision before the Supreme Court. We want to avoid a situation where we are already have printed ballots only to suddenly receive a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), which would force us to reprint,” Garcia said.
The Comelec held the COC filing period for the May 2025 midterm elections from Oct. 1 to 8, 2024.
Garcia said the authority to change the filing schedule rests with the commission, even as he acknowledged that some government officials could oppose the proposal.
He said appointive officials who intend to run may object because filing a COC would mean they are considered resigned from their posts immediately.
“Of course, we know there will be those who object—especially appointive officials who wish to remain in their posts. They won’t agree to it, because they would be deemed resigned immediately upon filing,” Garcia said.
The proposed Sept. 20 to 27 schedule remains subject to the Comelec’s final decision.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy
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