The first aspirant to file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Iloilo City for the 2025 midterm elections is citizen Mel Carreon.

This is Carreon’s 12^th attempt at winning an elective position. He filed his COC for congressman in the lone legislative district of Iloilo City.

He arrived at the Comelec inside a mall wearing a jersey with a tarpaulin attached to it.

The tarpaulin depicted details of the other 11 chances he took in the past elections.

“Vocation na ni ya ni Mel Carreon…Kun may fighting the will to live, the will to survive. Importante ang prayer sa Lord (Vocation na ito ni Mel Carreon. Kung may fighting the will to live, the will to survive. Mahalaga ang prayer sa Lord),” Carreon said.

Other aspirant who came early at the venue is Mor Espinosa, the nephew of former Iloilo City mayor Jose Espinosa III. He filed his COC for city councilor.

"I have a promise sa aton syudad nga maghatag serbisyo and the promise… wala pa nalab-ot ang ina nga promise. I hope by 2025 that promise will come into reality (I have a promise sa ating lungsod na magbibigay ng serbisyo and the promise…hindi pa naabot ang promise na yan. I hope by 2025, that promise will be a reality),” Espinosa said.

To ensure tight security, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) deployed 85 personnel at the venue.

“Diri ang concentration sang amon deployment. With police assistance desk sa entrance kag exit sang mall (Dito ang concentration ng ating deployment. With police assistance desk sa entrance at exit ng mall),” ICPO Director, Colonel Kim Legarda, said.

The Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (ICTTMO) deployed 60 personnel to ensure the orderly flow of traffic.

The ICTTMO reminded the public who will carry out a caravan or foot parade to secure a permit from their office.

The deadline is set on October 2, 2024.  

“Do not obstruct our road kun wala lang man kamo sang permit kay kinahanglanon nga civil kag mag-comply kamo sa policy and rules,” Uldarico Garbanzos, ICTTMO head, said.

Meanwhile in the Province of Iloilo, no aspirants yet turned up on the first day of COC filing, according to the Provincial Comelec.

“Ginagamit naton subong ang time i-further prepare naton ang aton venue kag opisina naton sa pagbaton sang COC sa palaabuton nga adlaw (Ginagamit natin ngayon ang time na i-further prepare natin ang ating venue at tanggapan natin sa pagtanggap ng COC sa darating na mga araw,” said Atty. Reinier Layson, provincial election supervisor of Comelec Iloilo.

The Provincial Comelec accepts the COCs of aspirants for congressman, governor, vice governor, and Provincial Board members from each legislative district.

No aspirant also turned up on the first day of COC filing in Bacolod City.

The Office of the Liga ng mga Barangay is designated as venue for the filing of COCs.

Comelec Bacolod City has called on aspirants to use the days leading to the deadline, not to swarm on the last day to prevent delays.

“We expect nga ang mga independent candidates nga mag-start na today. If you file on the last day, on the last minute ga-problema. It's better kun mag-early pa so that kun may problema we still have time,” Atty. Revo Sorbito, Comelec Bacolod City election officer, said.

As for Negros Occidental, a few aspirants filed their COCs at the Social Hall of the Provincial Government.

Comelec aspired as well that members of political parties would file simultaneously.

“Subong gina-screen na, gina-check namon. Usually in experience, in the middle damo gid (Ngayon sini-screen na, tsini-check namin. Usually in experience, in the middle marami talaga),” said Comelec Negros Occidental Election Officer, Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria.