The filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the 2010 polls began yesterday with Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña among the early birds.

Peña filed his COC for reelection as mayor before Pulupandan Election Officer Ma. Theresa Parroco at 3 p.m. yesterday.

The mayor, who is a member of the United Negros Alliance, said he is running as an independent.

He decided to file his COC on the first day to show his constituents his 100 percent willingness to continue to serve Pulupandan, Peña said.

“I might as well get the filing of my COC out of the way so I can concentrate on the waterworks needs of Pulupandan and the relocation of squatters,” he said.

In Murcia, businesswoman Stephanie Belleza Ly, 25, of Barangay Lopez-Jaena also filed her COC for vice mayor as an independent.

She is running because she wants to help the people of Murcia, Ly said.

The Comelec will accept CoCs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until November 30 and from 8 a.m. to midnight on December 1.

The campaign period for national candidates is set from Feb. 9 to May 8, 2010 and for local candidates, from March 26 to May 8, 2009.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco urged all those who have filed their COCs early to follow COMELEC rules against premature campaigning.

As of yesterday, no candidate had filed their COCs in Bacolod City and at the provincial office of the Comelec.

Vicky Chua Fernandez went to the Bacolod Comelec to file her COC as councilor but was unable to do so because of the lack of required documentary stamps, Bacolod Election Officer Ryan Castro said.

In Bago City, Moises Ledesma filed his COC for councilor, Elections Officer Mavil Majarucon said.

In Don Salvador Benedicto town, two candidates also filed their COCs for councilor, one of whom was identified as Roger Espartero.*CPG

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