Politicians in Albay file COCs, seek re-election in May 2022 polls

LEGAZPI CITY — Incumbent local government officials in Albay province are seeking another turn in public office as they filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Sunday morning at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here.

Among those seeking to be elected again is incumbent Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara who filed his COC under the Nacionalista Party.

“This is my final term. [I] just want continuity of my projects particularly the health care systems,” Bichara said in an interview Sunday.

Incumbent Vice Governor Grex Lagman also filed his COC as running mate of Bichara.

For mayoralty race the city, Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. also filed his candidacy accompanied by his wife and many supporters who were dressed in white shirts.

“Actually have still one term in Congress but there is a clamor and we humbly accept that clamor to introduce new leadership in Legazpi, a leadership that will feel the progress not only in urban but also in all villages north and south, and give priority and response to the basic needs that’s been neglected for 20 years,” Garbin told reporters. He was nominated for the mayoralty post by Lakas-CMD and NPC.

Garbin will be running against Geraldine Rosal, wife of incumbent Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal, who will be the official candidate for mayor under PDP-Laban.

In Oas town, the incumbent mayor Domingo Escoto Jr. already filed his COC, also under PDP-Laban, for his re-election.

Going against Escoto are Oas incumbent Vice Mayor Rene Raro and Bryan Bustamante, a Dean at San Beda University, who are both vying for the mayoralty position.