Neri Colmenares files his certificate of candidacy fr senator at the Harbor Garden tent of the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on October 07, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Only four individuals will be allowed to enter the designated area for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) from October 1 to 8, the Commission on Elections (COC) said Monday.

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The announcement was made by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, as political aspirants gear up for the COC filing period for next year’s national and local elections.

“Doon po sa national, papayagan lang natin eh tatlo na kasama nung mismong kandidato... dun din more or less ang papayagan natin sa mga local candidates,” Garcia told ABS-CBN News.

(We will only allow national and local candidates to file their COC with a maximum of three companions) 

“Sa mismong lugar kung saan nagpa-file ng candidacy, hindi po namin sila (supporters) papayagan na makapasok hanggang doon sa mismong loob,” Garcia said. 

(Supporters of candidates will not be allowed to enter inside the COC filing area) 

Garcia urged potential candidates not to make a spectacle out of the COC filing.

“Tutal pormal-pormalidad lang na tatanggapin ng Comelec ang inyong mga COCs. Sana naman po huwag nating masyadong gawing fiesta o masyadong nagugulo yung mga kababayan natin. Lalo na po at yung traffic ay maaring maistorbo, yung traffic ay makakaistorbo sa kanila,” he said.

Those who will stage a grand style of filing his or her COC – whether for national or local position - have the obligation to also ensure a smooth flow of traffic from their point of origin all the way up to the Comelec filing area, he stressed.

MANY WILL FILE ACCORDING TO FENG SHUI

But while Filipinos in general anticipate the expected fiesta-like atmosphere during the COC filing period, Garcia admitted that he is not expecting much on October 1, primarily because many politicians believe in feng shui.

“Ako ay hindi umaasa na madami kaagad ang magpa-file kaagad sa unang araw. Kalimitan base sa feng shui nila yan eh... base sa kanilang pinaniniwalaan at nakasanayan. Kalimitan huling araw nagpa-file ng kanilang Certificate of Candidacy,” Garcia in jest said.

(I am not expecting a huge number of filers during the first day, because many filed based on their feng shui adviser, or according to their belief. Most of the time, aspirants file on the last day) 

But there are still some who want everything to be in order, and file on the first COC filing day, Garcia said.

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