Comelec extends filing of COC for 2010 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the period of filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for next year’s elections by one more day to avoid possible confusion caused by the holidays. Comelec chairman Jose Melo said that instead of November 30, the deadline for the filing of COCs, which would start on November 20, would be at midnight on December 1. November 30 is a regular non-working holiday in honor of hero Andres Bonifacio. “Our deadline for the filing of application for candidacy is November 30, which is a holiday. So from November 20, we will be open for the filing of application of candidacy regardless whether it’s a Saturday or a holiday including those holidays in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao," Melo said. Melo said the Commission is expecting a great number of candidates next year since it will be a national election. A total of 68,000 candidates ran in the May 2004 elections while some 46,000 aspirants filed their COCs in 2007. - GMANews.TV