Vice Mayor Evangeline Dableo of Mina town, also running for mayor in the May 2013 Midterm Election under the United Nationalist Alliance party died due to cardiac arrest on Sunday.

With her death, the Commission on Election reiterated that only those nominated by the UNA party or any qualified member of her family could substitute her candidacy.

Provincial Election Officer Elizabeth Doronilla said that the deceased candidate may be substituted by someone who belongs to the same political party.

Doronilla also added said that Dableo’s family could also fill-in her candidacy with the nomination of the political party.

She added that the qualified substitute is required to submit a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance attached to his or her Certificate of Candidacy.

Meanwhile, Comelec also stated that candidates who have filed their (COCs) are given only until this Friday, December 21 to withdraw their candidacy or be replaced.

"The substitute of a candidate who has withdrawn on or before December 21, 2012 may file his Certificate of Candidacy for the office affected not later than Dec. 21, 2012, so that the name of the substitute will be reflected on the ballots," states Comelec Resolution No. 9518.

The resolution also stated that substitution for a candidate who died will be given until mid-day of election day to file his/her COC, provided that the substitute and the substituted have the same surnames.*