By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo Provincial Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that no candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for provincial positions on the first day of the filing period for the 2025 midterm elections on Oct. 1.
During the nine-hour window from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the designated venue at the VIP lounge of Festive Walk Mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, saw no submissions for governor, vice governor, congressman, or provincial board member positions.
Despite the lack of filings, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Reinier Layson declared the day a success.
“We consider this day a success because we saw that everyone was prepared, and our preparations with the PNP and other stakeholders went smoothly,” Layson said.
He noted that no issues were reported at the venue or in individual municipalities throughout Iloilo on the first day of filing. Monitoring will continue as the filing period progresses.
The COC filing period runs until Oct. 13, with candidates expected to file in the coming days.
Layson revealed that 5th District Representative Raul “Buboy” Tupas is scheduled to file his COC on Oct. 3, while Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and his brother, 3rd District Representative Lorenz “Nonoy” Defensor, are expected to file on Oct. 7.
Tupas is reportedly eyeing the vice governor position and will face Anilao Mayor Lee Ann Debuque, who is running alongside Gov. Defensor for the vice gubernatorial seat. Both Defensor and Rep. Nonoy Defensor are expected to seek reelection in their current posts.
To ensure security, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) Director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan confirmed the deployment of eight personnel to the venue, with additional officers stationed at police assistance desks in various municipalities. A standby team is also ready to respond if necessary.
At the municipal level, the provincial COMELEC reported that Maasin Mayor Francis Amboy and Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares filed their candidacies for reelection.
Layson advised all candidates to inform COMELEC of their filing dates to ensure a smooth submission process.
Candidates for provincial-level positions—governor, vice governor, board members, and district representatives—must submit their COCs at Festive Walk Mall. Local candidates, including mayors, vice mayors, and Sangguniang Bayan members, should file at the municipal level.
The filing period is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
