THE SAME faces of politicians who are seeking reelection, attempting a comeback, or swapping posts to relatives appeared in local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) in next year’s polls.
Actor-turned-politician Jeorge “ER” Ejercito, who was unseated by the Comelec as governor of Laguna province for campaign overspending in 2013, wants to reclaim his post as he vowed last year under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). He arrived around 9 a.m. at the Comelec office in the provincial capital of Sta. Cruz, accompanied by his running mate, Councilor Christian Lajara of Calamba City.
An independent candidate, Mateo San Sebastian, also filed his COC for governor. Ramil Hernandez, the erstwhile vice governor who assumed Laguna’s top post, is expected to run for governor under the Nacionalista Party (NP).
Unlike in May 2014, when Ejercito, a nephew of deposed President Joseph Estrada, was ordered to step down, there was not a large crowd of supporters with him, provincial election officer Dioscoro Pajutan said in a phone interview.
In Biñan City, local aspirants attended a concelebrated Mass for an honest and free elections by about 20 priests at Alonte Sports Arena before filing their COCs. Most of those who came were supporters of outgoing Mayor Len Alonte, who is running for the newly created congressional district in the city.
In Quezon province, Gov. David Suarez (National Unity Party) is seeking a third term, filing his COC in the company of his wife, Anna, and lawyer Vicente Joyas. According to Liberal Party (LP) members in the province, he would be challenged by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, whose son, Irvin, lost to him in 2013.
In Oriental Mindoro, the graft charges against Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. has not stopped him from seeking reelection. The LP stalwart and president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines filed his COC at the Comelec provincial office in Calapan City.
The Sandiganbayan has sentenced Umali to up to 10 years in prison for allegedly illegally facilitating a P2.5-million loan to a shipowner in 1994—a decision he has appealed to the Supreme Court.
Umali’s brother, Rey, wants another term as representative of the second district. Humerlito Dolor also filed his candidacy for reelection as vice governor, also under LP.
Bicol
In Albay, three political bigwigs belonging to or allied with the ruling LP were the early filers at the Comelec provincial office in Legazpi City.
Former Rep. Edcel Lagman is seeking to reclaim the seat held by his son, Rep. Edcel “Grix” Lagman Jr., in the first district. A member of his staff, Rose Bombales, filed the COC for him.
Grix won his first term in 2013, replacing his father who was on his third and final term of office.
LP provincial chair, Gov. Joey Salceda, who is on his last term, is running for a congressional seat in the second district. He came to the Comelec office with a throng of local candidates, reelectionist Vice Gov. Harold Imperial and the mayors and councilors in the second district—all wearing yellow shirts, LP’s campaign color.
Outgoing Rep. Al Francis Bichara (Nacionalista Party but allied with LP) of the second district, aims to swap places with Salceda, filing his COC for governor at around 2 p.m. He came with around 100 supporters in red shirts that read “Bichara Governor.”
In Camarines Sur, three Villafuertes, representing three generations of one of the oldest political clans in the province, filed their COCs on Monday.
With a marching band, Gov. Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte, the youngest, filed his COC for reelection at the Comelec office in Pili at 10 a.m. He was accompanied by his father, former governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, who also filed his COC as representative of the second district. Both are NP members.
Soon after they left, LRay’s estranged father and former governor, Luis Villafuerte, arrived with his own group of supporters to file his COC (Nationalist People’s Coalition) for representative of the third district, a position to be vacated by Rep. Leni Robredo who is running for Vice President with LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
Rep. Salvio Fortuno (LP) filed his COC for his third term in the fifth district.
Mindanao
In the newly created province of Davao Occidental, members of the Bautista clan filed their COCs for different positions at the Comelec office in Malita town.
Accompanied by her brothers, Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista, Joseph and Franklin, Lorna Bautista Bandigan formalized her bid to occupy the lone congressional seat as an LP candidate.
Joseph, who is in his final term as Malita mayor, is sliding to the vice mayoral post in a team-up with his nephew and mayoral aspirant, Bradley, a son of Davao del Sur Rep. Franklin Bautista (second district).
Franklin, who earlier signified interest in running for vice governor of Davao Occidental, is waiting for the final decision of his younger brother, Claude, who may be vying for the gubernatorial position. Claude, chair of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the undivided Davao del Sur, may file his COC on Friday, but he refused to categorically state for what position.
Later in the day, the wife of former Gov. Douglas Cagas, Rep. Mercedes Cagas (first district), is seeking reelection. She was accompanied by her husband’s nephew, John Tracy Cagas, who filed his COC for vice governor.
The lawmaker was seen holding a blank COC for the gubernatorial race. Douglas, who is in jail on charges of killing journalist Nestor Bedolido in 2010, had said he would be running in the gubernatorial race.
In Compostela Valley province, the top LP candidates filed their certificates. They included Jayvee Tyron Uy (for governor), reelectionist Vice Gov. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, and Representatives Ma. Carmen Zamora (first district) and Ruwell Peter Gonzaga (second district).
Gov. Arturo Uy, who now wants a seat in the provincial board (second district), led the entire slate to the Comelec office. He is switching post with his son, Jayvee Tyron.
In the lone district of Dinagat Islands, Rep. Kaka Bag-ao filed her candidacy for reelection. Local media dubbed her the “Dragon Slayer” after defeating the scion of the well-entrenched Ecleo dynasty in the past election in the province, according to a statement released by her staff.
In Cotabato City, reelectionist Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. filed his COC, along with his sister, city administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who is seeking a vice mayoral seat. They will carry the NPC banner against LP’s Muslimen Sema, the former mayor, and businessman Mohammad Pasigan.
Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano and Vice Gov. Jose Marie Pelaez filed their COCs for reelection in Cagayan de Oro City. They belong to the PaDayon Pilipino Party, the local ally of UNA.
PaDayon was founded by Vicente Emano, former Cagayan de Oro mayor and governor of the province, who is reported to be seeking to regain his post.
Northern Luzon
In La Union, outgoing San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega formalized his bid for a congressional seat in the first district after he and his brothers from the influential Ortega clan agreed not to run against each other for top positions in the province.
On Saturday night, Mayor Ortega met with brothers—Victor (first district representative), Manuel (Manoling, governor), Mario (the governor’s executive assistant), former Board Member Jose Maria (Pepe) and Board Member Francisco Jr. (Kit)—to prevent them from turning the polls into a venue for political infighting.
Pepe and Kit agreed to withdraw from the races to give way to their siblings, said Victor’s wife, former San Fernando City Mayor Mary Jane Ortega. Kit gave up plans to run for representative in the first district against Pablo, while Pepe was no longer running for mayor of San Fernando against Victor, and filed his COC for vice mayor instead.
Victor, 83, is the oldest of the Ortega brothers, whose family has been holding key posts in La Union since 1901.
Their nephews, however, refused to give in.
Board Member Victor Emmanuel “Mannix” Ortega, the governor’s son, filed his COC for the first congressional district seat at 8:07 a.m., minutes before his uncle, Pablo, filed his.
Mario is seeking the gubernatorial seat but had yet to file his COC. The governor’s son and Mario’s nephew, Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III, filed his COC for governor on Monday noon. Pacoy is serving his last term as representative of the party-list group Abono.
“The [Ortega] brothers are united. But we have to contend with the nephews,” Victor said. Pablo said he tried to reach out to them, “[but they have] not even taken our calls nor answered text messages.”
In pursuing his congressional ambitions, Mannix said, “May the best man win. I just want to offer myself because people are clamoring for my service and I want to continue the legacy of my father.” He said his father completed three terms as first district representative before being elected La Union governor.
Another son of the governor, Alfred, wants to run for vice mayor of San Fernando and would face his uncle, Pepe.
In Baguio City, Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. and Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan filed their COCs for their respective reelection bids, leading other local LP candidates.
In Pangasinan province, reelectionist Rep. Jesus Celeste (first district) was the first candidate to file his COC at 8 a.m. when the Comelec office opened. Celeste is running under the NPC.
Reelectionist Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas (third district) also filed her COC for reelection, accompanied by her daughter, former Rep. Rachel Arenas, at 11 a.m. Arenas is running under LP.
Provincial election supervisor Marino Salas said he did not expect a surge of candidates filing their COCs on Monday. “Some candidates look at the calendar and they file depending on the date they consider lucky,” Salas said.
Central Luzon
In Bulacan province, Rep. Gavini Pancho of National Unity Party filed his COC for reelection as second district representative, saying he wants to continue the legacy of his father, former Rep. Pedro Pancho.
In Nueva Ecija province, Rep. Czarina Umali (third district) filed her COC for governor against former Rep. Rodolfo Antonino (fourth district), who also filed his in Cabanatuan City.
Umali’s husband, outgoing Gov. Aurelio Umali, is seeking a congressional seat, hoping to replace his wife in the district.
Former Rep. Josefina Joson and incumbent Rep. Estrellita Suansing filed their candidacies in the first congressional district race.
In Pampanga province, businessman Jose “Pol” Quiwa III, an independent, was the first candidate to file his COC for the third congressional district seat. Quiwa ran and lost in the same race in 2013.
Provincial Board Member Nestor Tolentino complained of harassment, saying one of his supporters in Apalit town, youth leader Alvin Sawal, was threatened by unidentified gunmen.
In Zambales province, businessman Octavio Galvezo, 54, filed his COC for mayor of Olongapo City.
Visayas
Reelectionist Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s second district was the first candidate to file a COC in the province at 1:55 p.m., accompanied by his wife Vanessa, some family members and some mayors. He is seeking reelection under the NPC.
Aumentado said he wanted to complete his projects, including a submarine cable project to bring power to island-barangays and the construction of Ubay Airport which will start in January.
In Iloilo province, an unknown resident, Diopito Gonzales, is running for governor against the reelectionist incumbent, Arthur Defensor.
In Iloilo City, three candidates for councilor filed their COCs. They included reelectionist Joshua Alim (UNA), Candice Tupas (LP) and businessman Rommel Ynion (independent). Tupas is the wife of Councilor Nielex Tupas, who is on his third and last term, while Ynion ran but lost to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog in 2013.
In Aklan and Guimaras provinces, no COCs had been filed at the Comelec offices as of 3 p.m. In Antique and Capiz provinces, independent candidates for provincial board member separately filed their candidacies.
Candidates for congressman and provincial posts are expected to file their COCs on Oct. 15 or 16, the last day of the filing period.
One of the anticipated candidacies is that of Guimaras Rep. JC Rahman Nava who is serving his third and last term. The congressman, an LP member, could run head on against his younger brother, former Guimaras governor Felipe Nava (UNA) in the gubernatorial race.
In Negros Occidental province, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (sixth district) was the first to file a COC at 9:33 a.m. in Bacolod City because she had to go back to Congress to work. She is seeking a third term under NPC. Michael Jaucian, Mar S. Arguelles, Maricar Cinco, Juan Escandor Jr., Delfin Mallari, Madonna T. Virola and Romeo Ponte, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Leo Udtohan, Maya Jajalla, Jhunnex Napallacan, Carla P. Gomez and Judy Flores-Partlow, Inquirer Visayas; Alan Nawal, Eldie Aguirre, Frinston Lim, Charlie C. Señase, Nash B. Maulana and Bobby Lagsa, Inquirer Mindanao; Yolanda Sotelo, Gabriel Cardinoza, Johanne Margarette Macob and Jessica Tabilin, Inquirer Northern Luzon; and Ron Lopez, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Allan Macatuno, Armand Galang and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon