By JEN BAYLON

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental is all set for the upcoming filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections.

Provincial election supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the COC filing will be from October 1 to 8.

Ananoria said that the Comelec-NegOcc office on the second floor of the Old Provincial Capitol building’s Social Hall will accommodate candidates who will file their COCs for the positions of governor, vice governor, congressman, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

For other local positions, COCs are to be filed at the respective Comelec offices in local government units.

Candidates will need to bring their duly notarized COCs, as well as certified and original copies of certificate of nomination from their party if they are not independent candidates.

An election aspirant’s duly authorized representative is also allowed to file the COC, but it needs to have a valid reason, Ananoria said.

Candidates’ supporters are also allowed to enter the Comelec premises during the COC filings for as long as it does not disturb the proceedings inside the offices, he added./JB, WDJ