MANILA, Philippines—An uncle of administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. is seeking the congressional seat in Tarlac occupied by Teodoro’s wife.

Former Miss Universe Margarita “Margie” Moran-Floirendo is running for governor in Davao del Norte, one of the country’s biggest banana-producing provinces.

Controversial former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante has criticized broadcaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas for meddling in local politics and for acting like the “queen” of Capiz.

These are some of the developments on the political front in the provinces as candidates begin filing their candidacies for the May 2010 national elections.

In Tarlac, businessman Henry Cojuangco has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the seat now occupied by his niece-in-law, Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro.

Cojuangco, younger brother of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) chair emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., is running for representative in the first district which would possibly pit him against Prieto-Teodoro.

Cojuangco’s nomination was signed by NPC president Frisco San Juan. Cojuangco and three party mates running for board member in the first district were the first to file their COCs in Tarlac on Saturday.

Cojuangco is reentering Tarlac politics 17 years after losing the gubernatorial race to Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, wife of his cousin, former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.

A source close to Prieto-Teodoro said the lawmaker had yet to finalize her political plans. The source asked not to be named for lack of authority to issue official statements to the media.

Earlier, reports in Tarlac had it that should Prieto-Teodoro opt not to seek a second term, her mother-in-law and Henry’s and Danding’s sister, Merceditas Cojuangco-Teodoro, a former assemblywoman, would run in her stead.

With the split between Teodoro’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Danding Cojuangco’s NPC and between Teodoro and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Teodoro’s cousin and the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party, many Tarlac officials are in a dilemma over whom to support.

Run, Margie, run

In Tagum City, Moran-Floirendo is seeking the governorship of Davao del Norte, according to her husband, former Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr.

Speaking before reporters Friday, Floirendo Jr. said the defection of allies in the first district to the LP had whittled down the candidates who could challenge incumbent Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario.

The governor on Wednesday officially left Lakas-Kampi-CMD to take his oath before Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, running mate of Aquino, as a new LP recruit.

“No one accepted the challenge so I will let Margie run,” Floirendo said.

Moran-Floirendo, 55, won the 1973 Miss Universe competition in Athens, Greece, when she was 19.

Floirendo Jr. maintained that he would not be running and instead would be helping his nephew, 2nd district Rep. Antonio Lagdameo, the current administration party chair for Davao del Norte.

Two women are also being tapped to team up with the former beauty queen as the administration party’s candidates for the top three provincial posts.

Governor’s son

Reported to be running for the congressional seat in the first district is former Board Member Emily Alvarez, wife of former Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez. She would be pitted against former Vice Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario, the governor’s son.

Former provincial board member Shirley Belen Aala is eyeing the vice gubernatorial post against the incumbent, Victorio Suaybaguio Jr.

The would-be political clash is seen as yet another battle pitting the members of the Floirendo-Del Rosario clan against each other.

The two families behind Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco), the country’s largest banana exporter, are said to be at odds following the 2007 elections in which the elder Del Rosario ran for governor, a position said to be “reserved” for Tonyboy whose term as 2nd district representative was about to end then.

‘Stay out’

In Roxas City, Bolante, who is seeking the gubernatorial post under the Ugyon Kita Capiz party, said Sanchez-Roxas did not know the local political dynamic and should stay out of it.

Bolante was reacting to a statement made by Sanchez-Roxas at a forum in Dumarao town on Nov. 17 where she told Capiceños to support the candidates of her husband, Sen. Mar Roxas, and not those with records of corruption.

Sanchez-Roxas said Capiceños should also support those who have not been investigated by the Senate blue ribbon committee, a reference to Bolante, accused of orchestrating the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

On his block-time radio program on RMN-DyVR Saturday, Bolante said Sanchez-Roxas would not be a “credible” person to castigate former Roxas allies who had turned their backs on the senator because she was new to the Roxas family.