Davide, LP Cebu slate lead early bird filing at Comelec

Liberal Party candidates in Cebu province were among the early birds who  kicked off this week’s filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) with  the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday.

“I just want to file first because I have to go somewhere. This is just filing. There is no need of fanfare. We don’t want to bother people,” Hilardio Davide III told reporters at the Capitol compound.

Clad in a yellow polo shirt, “Junjun” Davide III was accompanied by wife Jobella, his mother Virginia and his father, former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.in filing his COC  for Cebu governor at the Comelec provincial office  past 8 a.m.

The One Cebu party  of incumbeng Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is expected to follow suit before the Oct. 5 deadline.

In Cebu City, candidates of the LP-anointed Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) will reportedly file their certificates on Thursday while Team Rama will do a photofinish on Friday.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and members of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) of the 5th district, allied with LP, will file their COCs on Friday as well.

Davide said he’s more confident going up against Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district, who will run for the post to be vacated by his sister Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

“We lacked preparation in 2010. Now, we are preparing for next year. We really hope to win,” he said. Davide went to  hometown of Argao to accompany Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos and his slate who filed their COCs at 1 p.m. .

Aside from Davide, former congressman Simeon Kintanar and LP bets Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero and Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district filed before noon.

Quisumbing is seeking reelection under LP while Kintanar will run for Cebu’s 2nd district.

Zaballero, daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez is running for a Provincial Board (PB) seat  in Cebu’s 3rd district under the LP.

The eldest of Sanchez’s three children, Gigi said people urged her to run and continue the programs of her  father. She filed her  certificate  at 10:35 a.m, a number she said meant something to her.

The 43-year-old engineer, a native of Tuburan town, northwest Cebu, said she wants to focus on  farming and agriculture, as well as undertake her father’s dream of a “farm-to-market road” and Cebu Trans-Axial Highway.

“There’s no harm in dreaming. We’re looking forward to be able to export organic vegetables from other countries,” said Zaballero who was accompanied by Vice Governor Magpale and Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha.

Yapha said she’s still waiting for her Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) from LP.

Yapha will be going up against Governor Garcia, who dropped out of her  senatorial bid to be One Cebu’s congressional candidate in the 3rd  district.

“At this time, I think no candidate is ready. In my case, I’m into a difficult situation because I will be facing the top official of the province. It’s not a joke,” she said.

Rep. Quisumbing is seeking reelection against former congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz who will run under the One Cebu ticket.

“I’m hoping to continue the flood control projects that I already started in the sixth district,” he said.

Quisumbing was accompanied by LP allies Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy.

At the Capitol, former Compostela mayor Ritchie Wagas was sworn into the One Cebu fold along with other candidates from the towns of Sogod and Pilar in Camotes Islands.

Wagas’s rival Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño and his entire slate filed their COCs at at the Comelec Compostela office at 11 a.m yesterday. They were accompanied by Rep. Red Durano VI of Cebu’s 5th district and a Bakud leader.

At the Comelec office, provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said all those who filed their COCs are considered candidates for next year’s elections.

“There is no more premature campaigning,” he said.

Castillano said the filing of the COCs was made earlier to give time for the printing of the ballots and configuration for the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine to be used for the automated elections.

The filing of COCs for the 2013 elections started yesterday and will end on Friday.

The Comelec is accepting COCs from 8 a.m. to 5.pm.

Castillano reminded those affiliated with a political party to attach their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) to the COCs otherwise they would be considered independents.

“A candidate who filed a COC can withdraw anytime. Any substitute to the person who withdrew should be chosen by the political party he or she is affiliated with,” he said.

Castillano said independent candidates could not be substituted. He said substitutions for candidates under a political party is allowed until December 21.

“After December 21, 2012, the Comelec would start the printing of the ballots and the configuration of the PCOS machine,” he said. With Correspondent Edison delos Angeles