The alleged snatching of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of a mayoral candidate in Himamaylan City on Tuesday, October 8, is under investigation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental said.

Ian Lee Ananoria, Comelec-Negros Occidental election supervisor, said the Himamaylan City election officer had already made a report of the incident.

Vicente Genova, 55 years old, reported to the city police that one of the two unidentified individuals who was following him to the local Comelec office, allegedly grabbed the copies of his COC from him, which led to a commotion.

However, Genova managed to submit his COC on that day.

Genova said the two suspects were wearing black caps, maong pants and sweat shirts.

They fled the scene after the incident, he said.

The individuals were captured on video by one of the witnesses.

Genova, a former city engineer in the local government unit, will face incumbent Mayor Raymund Tongson, who seeks his final term in the 2025 midterm elections./WDJ