Camarines Norte governor Edgardo Tallado and wife Josefina file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Comelec to run for provincial governor and representative for the first district of Camarines Norte, respectively. PHOTO by Stephanie Florida/Inquirer Southern Luzon
DAET, Camarines Norte — Dismissed Camarines Norte governor Edgardo Tallado and his wife, Josefina, filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy (COC) at the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) here on Monday morning.
Tallado, who had served the period of dismissal issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in March, will be running for governor of the province again.
His dismissal was based on an Ombudsman decision which found him guilty of grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct in a complaint filed against him by former provincial veterinarian Edgardo Gonzalez in 2012.
READ: DILG enforces Ombudsman order dismissing Tallado as Governor
The interruption of his term of office allowed Tallado to run for a fourth term.
“Nothing could stop me now that the issue is already settled. Substantial enough to extend my term of office. I still have pending projects that I have to finish, I still want to serve Camarines Norte. There is still a lot that we can do,” Tallado said.
Meanwhile, Tallado’s wife, Josefina, will be running for congresswoman in the first district of Camarines Norte. This will be her second try after losing in the 2016 elections.
Josefina said she will focus on the major concerns in the province if she is elected. “My focus will be the senior citizens, livelihood, and tourism,” she said.
The Tallados will be running under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Laban party./ee