The weeklong filing of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for the May 2025 national and local elections begins today, marking the unofficial start of the campaign season.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia clarified that those filing their CoCs are not yet official candidates, as they will only be recognized as such at the start of the campaign period.
Comelec will publish the list of all CoC filers two weeks after the filing period to help identify and disqualify nuisance candidates.
Despite the filing, the Comelec remains powerless against premature campaigning due to the “Peñera Doctrine,” which limits their authority until the formal campaign period begins.
EcoWaste Coalition urged candidates to prioritize environmental protection during their campaigns.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 1, 2024
