“Don’t wait for the deadline, file your Certificates of Candidacy early,” Negros OccidentalProvincial Elections Supervisor Jessie Suarez yesterday urged those planning to run for public office in 2013.

Suarez issued the appeal with the COMELEC release of Resolution No. 9518 setting theguidelines for the filing of COCs, and nomination and acceptance of official candidates of registered political parties or coalition of political parties in connection with the May 13, 2013 automated elections.

COCs can be filed on any day from October 1, to 5, during office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the resolution promulgatedTuesday states.

There will be no filing of COCs until midnight on the last day as previously practiced, the deadlinewill be at 5 p.m., Suarez stressed.

The guidelines also provide for substitution of candidates in case of death, disqualification or withdrawal of another.

If after the last day for the filing of COCs, an official candidate of a duly registered political party or coalition of political parties dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, he may be substituted by a candidate belonging to, and nominated by, the same political party, the guidelines state. No substitute will be allowed for any independent candidate.

The substitute of a candidate who has withdrawn on or before December 21, may file his COCs for the office affected not later than December 21, so that the name of the substitute will be reflected on the official ballots, the guidelines state.

No substitution due to withdrawal will be allowed after December 21.

A substitute for a candidate who died or is disqualified by final judgment, may file his Certificate of Candidacy up to mid-day of election day, provided that the substitute and the substituted have the same surnames, it added.

The person filing the COC should include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality. Titles, such as don, datu, doctor, ginoo, or similar words will not be allowed, the guidelines state.

With the filing of a COC any person holding a public appointive office or position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other officers and employees in government-owned or controlled corporations, will be considered ipso facto resigned from his office, the guidelines state. The candidate must vacate his officeon the day of the filing of his COC.

Any person holding an elective office or position will not be considered resigned upon the filing of his COC whether for the same or any other elective office or position, it added.

A candidate who accepts nominations from both national and local registered political parties shall not be considered as an independent candidate, the guidelines also state.*CPG

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