Commission on Elections Negros Oriental Supervisor Eddie Aba said yesterday that 277 elective positions will be contested in the May 13, 2013 elections.

These are for governor, vice governor, 10 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, three slots in the House of Representatives, 25 city and town mayors, 25 city and town vice mayors, and 212 members for both the sangguniang panlungsod and bayan of the five cities and 20 towns of the province.

Aba said the COMELEC is ready for the filing of the certificates of candidacy of those running for various posts, from October 1 to 5. Candidates for governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and congressional district should file their COCs at the provincial COMELEC office, and the rest at the offices of the Commission in the towns and cities.

He said he expects a shift from the previous practice of candidates filing their COCs at the last hour, since the COMELEC will be very strict in its policy of not giving an extension to the deadline for the filing of COCs. He said he believes the candidates fear that the lack or absence of a requirement in the certificate to be filed may lead to disqualification.

COMELEC will receive the COCs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no noon break. On October 5, only candidates who are inside the COMELEC office at 4:45 p.m. will be listed and allowed to complete the filing of COCs even after the 5 p.m. deadline, Aba said. The Commission will also accept incomplete COCs, but the fate of the candidate will be decided on by the COMELEC central office, he added.*JFP

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