Independents file bid for mayor, gov

Well-known politicians like Mike Rama, Tomas Osmeña, and PJ Garcia aren’t the only ones on the ballot.

A 55-year-old businesswoman filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor of Cebu City as an independent.

It’s the third time for Lea Ong of barangay Punta Princesa to throw her hat in the ring.

“I want to help the poor,” she said.

She said she wasn’t afraid to face political giants like Rama and Osmeña, appealing to them: “Sports lang gud. Tagaan nato ug katungod ang mga tawo nga mupili. Basta wa’y tikasay. ”

(Let’s practice sportsmanship. Give people a chance to choose their candidate. No cheating.)

She said she lost in the last election only because she wasn’t able to campaign in the mountain areas.

In the provincial office of the Commission on Election (Comelec), a radio-TV blocktimer and a law school graduate filed their bids for the governorship.

Roliveth “Boyet” Cortes, a 47-year-old broadcaster, said he was a “strong independent candidate.”

“I’m ready. I’m not saying I’m the better one. But the key to change is in me. Let’s rock and roll,” he told reporters.

Another independent candidate, Hermelito Bulala of Barili town declined to be interviewed. His COC said he was a law school graduate.

In Cebu City, three other independent candidates yesterday filed their bids for the Cebu City north district congressional seat.

They are Juan Arenasa, a former security guard; Pablo Doronio, and retired assistant regional state prosecutor Vicente Mañalac.

Filing of COCs for the midterm election started Monday, Oct. 1 and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 5.

Comelec Cebu City south district Election Officer Edwin Cadungog encouraged all candidates to file their COC’s early to avoid disqualification.

“It happens all the time that some candidates file a COC for a certain position then run for another position later on. That is not allowed,” said Cadungog.

He said candidates also can’t represent two national or two local parties at the same time.

OTHER FILERS

Another LP bet, Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, filed his COC for a seat in the Provincial Board to represent the 1st district. Alcoseba is a resident of Poblacion, Carcar City.

Other LP candidates who filed ealrier on Monday were former congressman Simeon Kintanar for the 2nd congressional district; Gricelda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero, daughter of the late vice governor Greg Sanchez Jr. for the Provincial Board’s 3rd district; 6th district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing for reelection and LP gubernatorial bet Hilario “Junjun” Davide III. /Reports from Patricia Andrea Pateña, Ador Vincent Mayol and Jhunnex Napallacan