Bohol rep files COC for gubernatorial post

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s second district filed his certificate of candidacy for governor of Bohol province on Friday, October 8, 2021. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY––In a sudden twist to a brewing political battle in Bohol, Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of the second district has decided to run for governor in the 2022 elections.

On Friday, Oct. 8, Aumentado filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) with his running mate for vice governor, provincial member Victor Balite.

He decided to run for governor after his ally, former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., begged off from seeking the top post in the province.

Aumentado, who is on his last term as Bohol congressman, is challenging incumbent Gov. Arthur Yap, who is seeking reelection, Hercules Castillo, and Concepcion Flores, who have filed their candidacies.

If elected, Aumentado said he would work towards strengthening Bohol’s economy.

“My advocacy is the economic zone of Bohol province so that we can provide additional jobs to our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Aumentado’s wife Vanessa will run for a seat in congress.

During the 17th and 18th Congress, Aumentado was the chair of the Committee on Science and Technology.

In October 2019, Aumentado firmly opposed the reported establishment of a coal power plant in Bohol through his House Bill 3710.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Aumentado filed House Resolution No. 669 to temporarily ban China flights to and from the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.

Aumentado is the son of the late Erico Aumentado, who became Bohol’s first governor.

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