THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) XI clarified that no candidate has withdrawn their certificate of candidacy (COC) after the filing ended on Oct. 8.
This comes after a false news spread by national media outlets claiming that former President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his COC for Mayor in Davao City to run for senator in the 2025 mid-term elections.
Speaking in the Davao Peace and Security press briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Atty Gay Enumerables, the acting regional director of Comelec XI, said the COC withdrawal must be done personally by the candidate and should be filed at the same Comelec site where they filed their COC.
“I received information from the national that withdrawal happened but then again until 5 yesterday there was none,” Enumerables said.
However, she said that this can be done by a representative if the client has a valid reason, such as illness, which would also require a medical certificate.
Enumerables added they have not observed any untoward incidents during the COC filing from Oct. 1 until the last day in all provinces of the Davao Region.
Finally, the official clarified that there is no extension for COC filing, which ended at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8.
“We are happy that we have finished the COC yesterday peacefully and there are no untoward incidents and our members in the field offices are preparing for their submission of the COCs in the main office,” she further said.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
