The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured Monday that it is in full readiness for today’s expected heavy influx of filers of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for the May 10, 2010 elections, in anticipation of the Filipinos’ penchant for beating the deadline at the last hour as a matter of political tactics.

But despite its readiness, the Comelec appealed to those who have yet to file their papers not to wait a few minutes before midnight today before filing their CoCs to avoid confusion and inconvenience to themselves and to poll personnel assigned to receive and acknowledge their candidacy.

The Comelec is currently led by Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento as Officer in Charge (OIC) or Acting Chairman pending the arrival from Europe of Chairman Jose A.R. Melo.

Sarmiento said when rival candidates and their respective supporters happen to be in the same area, the crowds tend to become unruly and only the strong presence of law enforcers can prevent trouble from flaring like what took place at the Comelec premises Monday morning.

Last Monday, the presidential and vice presidential tandem of former President Joseph Estrada and Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) filed their CoCs at the Comelec.

Before they were through with the filing and while their followers in the Comelec premises were cheering them, the group of Nacionalista Party (NP) candidates led by the tandem of Sen. Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda arrived also to file their CoCs.

Confusion and chaos flared up when religious leader Eddie Villanueva of Jesus is Lord Movement arrived as well to file his certificate of candidacy for President, likewise accompanied by his followers. Only the presence of uniformed law enforcers prevented the situation from getting out of hand.

Sarmiento said a similar situation can be averted if the candidates will file their CoCs early. He said Comelec personnel are trained to keep their cool even under intense pressure, but oftentimes the prospective candidates and their supporters are the ones who lose their temper when they race against time.

Meanwhile, businessman-turned-politician Mark Jimenez yesterday said he is ready to spend his enormous assets to run a “decent” campaign as an independent presidential candidate whose platform of government is geared towards fiscal stability of government, eradication of corruption, and protection of human rights.

Even if Jimenez announced his presidential bid only a day before the deadline of filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections, the former Manila congressman said he was thinking about it since 2004 while he was serving his sentence at a federal prison in the United States.

Jimenez is set to file his COC before noon today at the Comelec in Intramuros, Manila.

Meanwhile, Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal-Valade has rejected calls for a re-election and will push through with her bid for the presidency. Madrigal will file her CoC this Tuesday, December 1, at around 7:30 a.m.

Madrigal favors a presidential candidacy with an advocacy for “good governance and pro-Filipino economy.” (With reports from Kris Bayos and Hanna L. Torregoza)