The Commission on Elections in Western Visayas, which now has two regional directors, is all set for the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy today for the October 28 barangay elections.

The filing of COCs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily starts today and ends on October 17, Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Jessie Suarez said.

He is urging candidates in the 662 barangays of Negros Occidental to file their COCs early, and not to wait for the last minute.

Eight posts are up for grabs per barangay, so if 16 bets run per barangay in Negros Occidental that would be about 10,592 candidates, he said.

He warned candidates against overspending and premature campaigning, pointing out that the campaign period is from October 18 to 26.

While COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes has appointed Remlane Tambuang regional director of the poll body in Region 6, Dennis Ausan still retains the same title.

Both regional directors yesterday briefed Negros Occidental election officers on the smooth conduct of the elections and listened to their concerns.

Tambuang, who formerly headed COMELEC Region 11, said he assumed the post of official Region 6 regional director on October 1 only for the barangay elections.

“I am the official regional director, I will sign all the documents,” he said.

The instructions of the chairman is for Ausan, who retains his regional director title, to assist me, he said.

“He works side by side with me,” Tambuang said.

Ausan said “I did not take I leave, I was not relieved, I’m still doing my mandated functions” but, “officially it is director Tamguang who will be doing the signing of everything as official election director of Region 6 at least for the entire election period.”

The Comelec Region 6 assistant regional director Tomas Varela has been assigned acting regional director of Region 11, Ausan said.

“As directed by Chairman Brillantes, I have to guide director Tamguang, being new to Region 6…we share the work,” he said.

The Comelec Region 6 field personnel are prepared for the polls, their tasks have been lightened by the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan polls, Ausan said.

The Comelec field personnel will be training teachers who will serve in the polls in the next few days, he added.

He instructed them to conduct thorough trainings so there will be no manifest errors during polls, Ausan said.

Suarez said the election areas of concern in Negros Occidental are still being finalized as the police and Army are reconciling their figures.

On the carnival that is blocking the back passage to the Comelec Bacolod office, Suarez said they will ask the Philippine National Police to address the matter.

The order of the Comelec takes precedence over and above other orders during the election period, except if the order comes from the Supreme Court, he said.

If the delivery of election paraphernalia is affected by the blockade at the back entrance of the Bacolod Comelec, we will order the PNP to remove it, he said.*CPG

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