By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental announced yesterday that certificate of candidacy (COC) forms for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are now available online.

Elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the COC forms can be downloaded on Comelec’s website.

However, the filing should still be made before the local election officers in every local government unit.

The filing of COCs is on August 28.

Application forms for election gun ban exemption can also be submitted online.

Ananoria said he will meet with officials from Comelec in Western Visayas to prepare the regulations for the convening with the Regional Joint Security Control Center this month.

He also reminded that local chief executives cannot formally endorse candidates for the local polls.

However, he said it cannot be avoided as some officials may still provide support for election candidates./DGB, WDJ