MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” enjoys the involvement and cooperation of at least five major political parties.

However, the Commission on Elections has not yet received the group’s application for accreditation as an “alliance,” according to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia.

Garcia said: “Wala pa rin, wala pa rin tayong natatanggap na ganyang klaseng petisyon sa atin.”

To date the administration alliance is composed of the following parties:

- Partido Federal ng Pilipinas

- Lakas-CMD

- Nationalist People’s Coalition

- Nacionalista Party

- National Unity Party

“Sa kasalukuyan, wala pa tayong natatatanggap na kahit na anong petisyon upang ma-accredit ang isang alliance,” Garcia told journalists.

The period of application for coalition or alliance has already expired, Garcia said.

Without an accredited alliance or coalition, political aspirants of parties involved in said arrangements, are required to file their Certificate of Candidacy using their own party’s Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), signed by their authorized party leader, who is also legally recognized by the Comelec.

“Sa ngayon ang hinihintay na lang yung pagko-conduct ng tinatawag na party convention, upang makapaghalal, makapag-nominate sila among themselves kung sino ang kanilang nominado sa senador, o sino ang nominado sa posisyon ng congressman sa bawat distrito,” Garcia said.

COC FILING 

With just a week away from the October 1-8 COC filing period, Garcia’s main appeal to politicians is to ensure that the flow of traffic around and going to Comelec offices, will not be affected by whatever gimmick that they intend to stage to mark their entry in the 2025 polls.

Among the realities that will happen during the COC filing period, Garcia said, are wannabes bringing in throngs of supporters to the Comelec, complete with fiesta-like programs or activities and feeding the people.

“Siyempre, yung iba dyan magpapamisa, yung iba dyan may iba-iba pang pakulo. Hinding-hindi po namin kayo pipigilan sa mga bagay na iyan,” Garcia said.

Only three persons will be allowed to accompany a COC filer, Garcia stressed.

Maintaining a steady flow of traffic will be under the local government unit concerned, and the Comelec will just be there to coordinate with the LGU, Garcia said.

Garcia meantime took a swipe at politicians who are already promoting themselves under the guise of various public service announcements or messages.

“Ngayon pa nga lang meron nang lumalabas sa TV na mga ads. Meron nang pagkalalaking tarpaulin na nasa mga kalsada, hindi po namin kayang pigilan. Pero siyempre, ang mga mamamayan na lang ang bahala kung sa kanilang palagay ay tama ba ang ginagawa ng ilang possible na kakandidato,” Garcia said.

“Hindi rin namin pwedeng pigilin yung mga pagsusuot ng t-shirt kahit may kulay-kulay pa o mulha nung kandidato. Hindi rin po namin kayang pigilan yung kanilang pagpapakain sapagkat yan po ay parte ng kanilang pagpapa-file at hindi pa po sila kandidato,” he added.

As stated by the election law, those who will file their COC, can only, formally considered as “candidates” when the campaign season starts on February 11 for those aspiring a national position and March 28, for local aspirants, Garcia reminded the people.