Ilagan, Isabela (24 November) -- Local election offices in the entire province are now ready to receive all local candidates who wish to file their certificates of candidacy beginning today until December 1, 2009.

Marites Salvador, election assistant in this province, said that all Commission on Elections (COMELEC) offices are open daily until December 1, 2009 from 8:00 o'clock in the morning until 12:00 midnight of December 1, 2009.

Comelec has set November 20 until November 30, 2009 for filing of certificates of candidacy but this was moved until December 1, 2009 since November 30 is a legal holiday in the country.

"All election offices in the municipalities are ready to receive certificates of candidacy" Salvador said over a local radio station here.

Salvador, together with other Comelec Officers, however, expressed sadness on the killing of their boss, Atty. Michael Valdez.

"We just arrived last night from the province of La Union particularly at Agoo, the hometown of Atty. Valdez to pay our last respect to him" Salvador said.

Election activity will go on despite the murder of Provincial Election Supervisor Michael Valdez. Comelec regional office 2 has appointed Santiago City Comelec officer Atty. Manuel Castillo to take the post of the slain official in an acting capacity.

Valdez was allegedly killed in his own hotel at Tumauini, Isabela last Saturday by five suspects and two of the suspects were arrested namely Harry Taccad and Gerry Calanday. The two are now in the custody of PNP Isabela. The three others are being hunted by IPPO as Lito Magdangal alyas Michael and Giovanni Taccad Mendoza alyas Bunny and a certain Eric Alzate.