What you need to know about certificate of candidacy filing

Metro Manila, Philippines – Aspiring public officials will soon file their certificates of candidacy (COC) to run in the midterm elections on May 12, 2025.

A COC is a sworn statement of an aspirant seeking public office in the next election.

What do you need to know about the COC filing?

Who and when

Aspirants aiming to secure a seat in Congress, provincial, city and municipal government should file their COC on Oct. 1 to 8.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that will also happen on May 12, prospective district representatives of parliament can file their COC on Nov. 4 to 9.

An aspirant cannot seek two positions. A sworn statement of cancelation may be filed until Oct. 8 to correct the situation. Otherwise, the winning candidate is not considered elected.

Where?

An accomplished - notarized and stamped - COC is submitted to the offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The following is the list of filing venues for the elective positions:

+ Senator, party-list representative - law department or other areas the Comelec en banc may designate

+ House representative in Metro Manila districts - National Capital Region Office of the Election Director

+ House representative in provincial districts - Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor

+ House representative of cities outside Metro Manila who have more than one district - Office of the Election Officer designated for the Regional Election Director

+ Governor, vice governor, provincial council member - Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor

+ BARMM Parliament representative - Bangsamoro Electoral Office through the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor

+ Mayor, vice mayor in cities with more than one election officer - Office of the Election Officer of respective district

+ Council member of cities’ with only one district - Office of the Election Officer of respective city

+ Municipal mayor, vice mayor, and council members - Office of the Election Officer of respective municipality

Voters will elect:

+ 12 senators

+ 254 district representatives

+ 63 party-list representatives

+ 82 governors and vice governors

+ 1,682 city council members

+ 800 provincial council members

+ 11,948 municipal council members

+ 149 city mayors and vice mayors

+ 1,493 municipal mayors and vice mayors

+ 40 nominees of BARMM political party

+ 25 representatives of each district of the BARMM parliament

NewsWatch Plus Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.