AUTOMATION RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION No. 8678

GUIDELINES ON THE FILING OF CERTIFICATES

OF CANDIDACY AND
NOMINATION OF OFFICIAL CANDIDATES OF
REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES
IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 10, 2010
NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Promulgation: 06 October 2009

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The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the power vested in it by the Constitution, the
Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, RESOLVED to promulgate as it hereby
promulgates, the following rules and guidelines on the filing of certificates of candidacy and
nomination of official candidates of registered political parties in connection with the May 10,
2010 National and Local Elections.
SEC. 1. Certificate of Candidacy. - a) No person shall be elected President,
Vice-President, Senators, Member of the House of Representatives, Provincial, City or Municipal
officials unless he files a sworn certificate of candidacy in the form prescribed by the
Commission (prescribed forms attached), and within the period fixed herein.
b) No person shall be eligible for more than one office to be filled in the same election. If he
files a certificate of candidacy for more than one office he shall not be eligible for either.
However, before the expiration of the period for the filing of certificate of candidacy, the
person who has filed more than one certificate of candidacy may declare under oath the office
for which he desires to be eligible and cancel the certificate of candidacy for the other office
or office/s. Said declaration shall be filed personally or through his duly authorized
representative with the proper office in accordance with Sec. 3 hereof.
c) A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may, prior to the election, withdraw the
same pursuant to Sec. 13 hereof.
d) The filing of a withdrawal of a certificate of candidacy shall not affect whatever civil,
criminal or administrative liabilities a candidate may have incurred.
SEC. 2. Contents of certificate of candidacy. - The certificate of
candidacy shall be under oath and shall state that the person filing it is announcing his
candidacy for the office and constituency stated therein; that he is eligible for said office, his
age, sex, civil status, place and date of birth, his citizenship, whether natural-born or
naturalized; the registered political party to which he belongs; if married, the full name of the
spouse; his legal residence, giving the exact address, the precinct number, barangay, city or
municipality and province where he is registered voter; his post office address for election
purposes; his profession or occupation or employment; that he is not a permanent resident of
an immigrant to a foreign country; that he will support and depend the Constitution of the
Republic of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that he will
obey the laws, legal orders, decrees, resolution, rules and regulations promulgated and issued
by the duly-constituted authorities; that he assumes the foregoing obligations voluntarily
without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate
are true and correct to the best of his own knowledge.
Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court-approved proceeding, a
candidate shall use in a certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized or if
he has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the
local civil registrar or any other name under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a
Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage: provided, that
when there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and surname, each
candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname,
except the incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate
of candidacy when he was elected.
The person filing the certificate of candidacy may include one nickname or stage name by
which he is generally or popularly known in the locality; Provided: That no candidate shall use
the nickname, stage name or initials of another. In case of several nicknames or stage names,
only the nickname or stage name first written shall be considered.
Titles, such as DON, DATU, DOCTOR, GINOO, or words of similar imports shall not be allowed.
SEC. 3. Where to file certificate of candidacy. - The certificate of
candidacy shall be filed in FIVE (5) LEGIBLE COPIES with the offices of the Commission specified
hereunder:
A. Law Department, Commission on Elections

For President, Vice-President and Senator.

B. Regional Election Director, NCR
For Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in the National Capital
Region (NCR);
C. Provincial Election Supervisor concerned:

1) Members of the House of Representatives of legislative districts in provinces;

2) For Provincial officials;
D. City Election Officer concerned designated for the
purpose by the Regional Election Director.

1) Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in cities outside the NCR,
which comprise one or more legislative districts;
2) For City Officials of cities with more than one election officer.
Copies of the designation of the Election Officer concerned shall immediately be
submitted to the Law Department of the Commission;
E. City/Municipal Election Officer concerned

For City/Municipal Officials

The certificate of candidacy shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized
representative. No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or
facsimile. The authority of the authorized representative shall be in writing and under oath and
attached to the certificate of candidacy.
Certificate of candidacy not filed with the correct offices as enumerated above shall not be
accepted.
The filing of the certificate of candidacy of a substitute candidate, in case of valid
substitution, shall be filed in accordance with Sec. 13 hereof.
The form of the certificate of candidacy shall be distributed free of charge and no filing fee
shall be imposed.
SEC. 4. Effects of Filing Certificates of Candidacy. - a) Any person
holding a public appointive office or position including active members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines, and other officers and employees in government-owned or controlled
corporations, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of his
certificate of candidacy.
b) Any person holding an elective office or position shall not be considered resigned upon the
filing of his certificate of candidacy for the same or any other elective office or position.
SEC. 5. Period for filing Certificate of Candidacy. - The certificate of
candidacy shall be filed on regular days, from November 20 to 30, 2009, during office hours,
except on the last day, which shall be until midnight.
SEC. 6. Certificates of nomination of official candidates by the
political party. - The certificate of nomination of registered political parties or
coalitions of political parties of their official candidates shall be filed, in five (5) copies, not
later than the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy, duly signed and attested under
oath by the party president, chairman, secretary-general or any other duly authorized officer
and shall bear the acceptance of the nominee by affixing his signature in the space provided
therein. If the certificate of nomination of a candidate is filed within the period for filing of
certificate of candidacy, but after his certificate of candidacy has been filed, a copy of the
certificate of nomination shall be attached to the certificate of candidacy.
For this purpose, all registered political parties shall, not later than November 15, 2009, submit
to the Law Department the names and specimen signatures of the authorized signatories to
official party nominations.
No certificate of nomination or any amendment thereto shall be filed after the last day for
filing of certificate of candidacy, except in case of valid substitution under Sec. 13 hereof.
No political party shall be allowed to nominate candidates more than the number of persons
required to be voted for in an elective position. In such a situation, all of the nominations shall
be denied due course by the Commission.
SEC. 7. Independent Candidate. - An independent candidate is one:
1) who has not been nominated by a registered political party or its duty authorized
representative;
2) whose nomination has not been submitted by a registered political party;
3) who has not accepted a nomination from a registered political party;
4) who accepts nominations from more than one registered political party, except in cases of
coalitions of said political parties; or
5) whose nomination was filed after the last day of filing of certificate of candidacy.
SEC. 8. Ministerial duty of receiving and acknowledging receipt
of certificates of candidacy/nomination; Recording. - The receiving
officer as provided for in Sec. 3 hereof shall have the ministerial duty to receive and
acknowledge receipt of the certificates of candidacy/nomination by registered political parties
or coalition of political parties on or before the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy,
provided said certificates are under oath and contain all the required data and in the form
prescribed by the Commission. He shall stamp every copy of each certificate with the date and
time of its receipt and affix his signature thereon.
The receiving officer shall enter in a record book, the following data, leaving no space between
entries: a) date and time of receipt of the certificates; b) assigned consecutive number
thereof; c) full name of the candidate; d) the office for which the candidate is running; e) the
political party to which the candidate belongs and/or which nominated him, if any; f) the
number of copies actually received; and g) the name of the receiving officer.
Without delay, after 12:00 o’clock midnight of the last day for filing certificate of candidacy,
the receiving officer shall close the record book by placing a line immediately after the last
entry and writing the word “closed”. He shall then affix his signature immediately below the
word “closed” and indicate the date and exact time of closing.
SEC. 9. Watchers of candidates, political parties and accredited
citizens’ arms. - Any candidate, political party, accredited citizen’s arm may appoint a
watcher in connection with the filing and reception of the certificates of candidacy. The
watcher shall be allowed to stay within the premises of the authorized receiving office and to
take note of the proceedings but without interrupting or disturbing official business. Any
watcher may report in writing to the Commission any irregularity, which may require
appropriate action.
Watchers shall be entitled, upon written request, to secure from the receiving officer a copy of
the full list of those who filed their certificates of candidacy and their respective positions.
SEC. 10. Reports on the delivery of certificates of candidacy. -
The receiving officer shall, using the program provided by the Information Technology
Department (ITD):
1) encode the candidates’ information and save the same in two (2) compact discs (CD);
2) print a list of candidates and affix his signature thereon.
Not later than December 2, 2009, the receiving officer shall report, by rush telegram or any
available fastest means of communication to the Commission through the Law Department, a
complete list of candidates who have filed their certificates of candidacy as entered in the
record book. Within the same period, the record book, list of candidates duly signed, CDs, and
copies of the certificates of candidacy except one copy to be retained for file, as well as the
original copy of nomination, if any, shall be delivered personally to the Law Department in
Manila by the following:
1) Regional Election Director for NCR – For Member of the House of
Representatives in the legislative districts in the NCR;
2) Provincial Election Supervisor – For Member of the House of Representatives
and provincial, city and municipal positions outside the National Capital Region;
For this purpose, the Election Officers concerned shall deliver the above mentioned items
to his Provincial Election Supervisor within twenty-four (24) hours after the deadline for filing.
3) City/Municipal Election Officer – For city and municipal positions in the
National Capital Region.
The Law Department shall distribute the copies of the certificates of candidacy and CDs, as
follows:

1st and 2nd Copies and

one (1) CD Law Department

3rd Copy and one (1)

CD ERSD

4th Copy COMELEC Secretary

SEC. 11. Preparation of the Certified List of Candidates. -

Immediately after the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy, the certified list of
candidates shall be prepared by election officials/ department concerned as follows:
A. Law Department

For President, Vice-President and Senator;

B. Regional Election Director concerned

For Members of the House of Representatives in the legislative districts in the National Capital
Region (NCR);
C. Provincial Election Supervisor concerned

For Members of the House of Representatives in legislative districts in provinces, and provincial
officials;
D. City/Municipal Election Officer concerned

For city and municipal positions in the National Capital Region; and
For city and municipal positions outside of the National Capital Region.
SEC. 12. Withdrawal of Certificate of Candidacy. - Any person who has
filed a certificate of candidacy may at any time before election day and subject to Sec. 13
hereof, file personally a statement of withdrawal under oath in five (5) legible copies with the
office where the certificate of candidacy was filed. No statement of withdrawal shall be
accepted if filed by a person other than the candidate or if filed by mail, telegram or
facsimile.
The Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor, or the Election Officer
concerned shall, upon receipt of the withdrawal, notify the Law Department by the fastest
means of communication of the a) full name of the candidate withdrawing; b) elective office
concerned; c) political party, if any; and d) substitution made, if any. On the same date, he
shall retain a file copy and immediately forward to the Commission through the Law
Department all the other copies. The Law Department shall, in turn, distribute the copies to
the offices/departments concerned as provided under Sec. 11 hereof.
For any withdrawal of candidacy and/or substitution filed with the Commission, the field office
concerned and the Project Director of Phase II shall be notified.
SEC. 13. Substitution of Candidates, in case of death,
disqualification or withdrawal of another. - If after the last day for the
filing of certificate of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered political party dies,
withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, he may be substituted by a candidate belonging to,
and nominated by, the same political party. No substitute shall be allowed for any independent
candidate.
The substitute for a candidate who withdrew may file his certificate of candidacy as herein
provided for the office affected not later than December 14, 2009.
The substitute for a candidate who died or suffered permanent incapacity or disqualified by
final judgment, may file his certificate of candidacy up to mid-day of election day. If the death
or permanent disability should occur between the day before the election and mid-day of
election day, the substitute candidate may file the certificate with any board of election
inspectors in the political subdivision where he is a candidate, or in the case of a candidate for
President, Vice-President or Senator, with the Law Department of the Commission on Elections
in Manila.
No person who has withdrawn his candidacy for a position shall be eligible as substitute
candidate for any other position after the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy.
SEC. 14. Nuisance Candidates. - The Commission may, motu proprio, or upon
verified petition of an interested party refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of
candidacy of candidates running for national position if it is shown that said certificate has
been filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute, or to cause confusion among the
voters by the similarity of names of registered candidates, or by other circumstances or acts
which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office
for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed and thus prevent a faithful determination
of the true will of the electorate.
A verified petition to declare a duly registered candidate as a nuisance candidate shall be filed
personally or through duly authorized representative with the Commission by any registered
candidate within five (5) days from the last day for filing certificate of candidacy.
SEC. 15. Petitions to Deny Due Course to or Cancel of a
Certificate of Candidacy. - A verified petition seeking to deny due course or to
cancel a certificate of candidacy may be filed by any person within five (5) days from the last
day for filing of certificate of candidacy but not later than twenty five (25) days from the filing
of the certificate of candidacy, exclusively on the ground of material misrepresentation on the
contents of the certificate of candidacy as required under Sec. 74 of the Omnibus Election
Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881).
SEC. 16. Effects of Disqualification. - Any candidate who has been declared
disqualified by final judgment shall not be voted for and the votes cast in his favor shall not be
counted. If, for any reason, he is not declared disqualified by final judgment before the
election and he is voted for and receives the winning number of votes, the case shall continue
and upon motion of the petitioner, complainant, or intervenor, the proclamation of such
candidate may be ordered suspended during the pendency of the said case whenever the
evidence is strong.
a) where a similar complaint/petition is filed before the election and before the proclamation
of the respondent and the case is not resolved before the election, the trial and hearing of the
case shall continue and referred to the Law Department for preliminary investigation.
b) where the complaint/petition is filed after the election and before the proclamation of the
respondent, the trial and hearing of the case shall be suspended and referred to the Law
Department for preliminary investigation.
In either case, if the evidence of guilt is strong, the Commission may order the suspension of
the proclamation of respondent, and if proclaimed, to suspend the effects of proclamation.
SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh (7th) day after
its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
SEC. 18. Dissemination. - The Education and Information Department shall cause
the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines and give the same the widest dissemination possible and furnish copies thereof to
all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Officers and accredited
political parties and party-list organizations or coalitions participating in the party list system
of representation.
SO ORDERED.
 (Sgd.) JOSE A.R. M
Chairman

(Sgd.) RENE V. SARMIENTO

Commissioner

(Sgd.) LUCENITO N. TAGLE

Commissioner

(Sgd.) ELIAS R. YU
Commissioner