The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is set to require aspiring candidates to submit birth certificates alongside their certificates of candidacy (COC), in a move aimed at strengthening citizenship verification and reducing election-related disputes.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said the poll body will soon issue a resolution formalizing the requirement, which is expected to take effect starting with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on November 2, 2026.
In an interview, Garcia said the policy aims to ensure that only qualified Filipino citizens are allowed to run for public office.
He noted that requiring birth certificates would help prevent confusion over a candidate’s identity and enable election officials to verify citizenship at the time of filing.
Garcia added that early verification could reduce the number of disqualification cases filed after candidacies have already been accepted.
The poll chief also emphasized that no law prohibits the COMELEC from requiring additional documents, such as birth certificates, as part of the COC filing process.