The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Thursday the moved schedule for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in order to avoid violence and eliminate nuisance candidates.

The new COC filing schedule is from August 28 to September 2, initially scheduled from July 3 to 7.

Campaign season runs from October 19 to 28, while Oct. 30 is election day.

"The longer the period (between COC filing and Election Day), the more likely violence will spark. During barangay elections, the playground for the candidates is just small. They will be seeing each other every day, along with their supporters. That can start chaos in their barangays," Comelec deputy executive director Teopisto Elnas said during the press briefing.

Meanwhile, he stated that throughout the election season, which will run from August 28 to November 14, the PNP will compile a list of "potential areas of concern" and "possible areas of substantial concern" to be watched.