The Commission on Elections (COMELEC-Iloilo City) has clarified that only aspirants for national positions will be required to present negative swab test or antigen test results taken 24 hours prior to their filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).
“For aspirants for the positions of President, Vice-President, Senator, RT-PCR test or antigen test taken within the last twenty-four (24) hours prior to the filing of COC, indicating a negative result shall be required,” Comelec Resolution 10717 stated.
The poll body said those without negative antigen test results “shall not be allowed access in the receiving office/venue for filing.”
“This is for national candidates only since damo ang magafile didto. Diri sa aton wala,” City Election Assistant Officer II Jonathan Sayno said in an interview on IMT Conversations.
The filing of COCs for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections is scheduled on Oct. 1 to 8.
Sayno said local candidates are only allowed two people to accompany them in the submission of their COCs and they will be required to wear KN95 face masks and face shields while inside the COMELEC premises.
“Since this is a pandemic election, indi kita mag-allow sang pagusto lang magsulod sa COMELEC office. They need to wear face masks nga KN95, fill up sang health declaration form and limited to two companions lang dapat ang dala sang isa nga kandidato.”
Sayno also appealed to the aspirants to discourage their supporters from staging caravans and gatherings outside the COMELEC office.
“Pwede ka face to face pero may social distancing and limited ang pag gather sang tawo. COMELEC has no jurisdiction if the candidates will mount caravan outside since their responsibility is to ensure they observe the safety protocols in the receiving area,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sayno noted that the COMELEC-Iloilo City has recorded an increase of 12,000 new voters since they opened the registration last February.IMT
