Laoag City, the capital of Ilocos Norte. (Photo courtesy of Laoag city government)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Three incumbent councilors in Ilocos Norte’s capital city of Laoag have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for reelection on Wednesday.
Jason Bader Perera, a lawyer who survived a slay attempt in 2018, is seeking a second term. Perera was a former legal officer of the provincial government.
The lawyer is running under the banner of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). He is now allied with the Fariñas clan, a dominant political family in Ilocos Norte.
Justine Chua and his uncle Edison also filed their COCs for their third and second terms, respectively. Both of them are running as independent candidates.
Edison is the brother of former Laoag Vice Mayor Jimmy Chua, who was shot dead in 2005. Jimmy was the father of Justin.
First-time candidates who are also seeking a seat in the city council are Enrico Aurelio, former secretary of the Laoag city council, and businessman Hanson Chua.