Comelec reports 1st case of COC snatching happened in Negros Occidental
MANILA, Philippines — Two individuals are now being tracked down after snatching the certificate of candidacy (COC) of a mayoralty aspirant in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental during the week-long filing of COC, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
The incident happened while the aspiring candidate was on his way to the Comelec filing area in Himamaylan.
Fortunately, the political hopeful managed to lodge his bid using spare copies of COC, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday without identifying the local aspirant.
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The individuals who snatched the aspirant’s COC are still at large but a hot pursuit operation against them is ongoing, according to the Comelec official.
Article continues after this advertisementGarcia noted that this is the first time he’s heard of such a case.
Article continues after this advertisement“We’ve always heard of ballot box snatching, ballot snatching. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time in history that a COC snatching occurred,” Garcia said.
“Nakakalungkot na nakakatawa, (It’s funny and sad) but for us, this did not tarnish the very good result of the COC filing,” he added.