Comelec closes candidate filing with record COCs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) closed the filing period on Tuesday, October 8, for candidates seeking to join the May 2025 elections.

During the eight-day filing period that began on October 1, Comelec received a record number of certificates of candidacy (COCs), with 183 individuals filing for senator compared to 176 in 2022 and 153 in 2019. Additionally, 190 party-list groups applied to join the race.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia reported that a total of 43,033 aspirants have filed their COCs and CON-CANs for national and local posts, with 78.2% being male candidates and 21% female candidates.

Outside the Manila Hotel Tent City venue, security was tight as protesters called for a boycott over Comelec's P18 billion automated polls contract with Miru Systems.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that the filing period was generally peaceful despite an incident in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao del Sur province, where a village watchman was killed and five other supporters were injured during an exchange of gunfire on Tuesday afternoon.