NO, AGAIN Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte tells the public for the nth time on Monday’s press conference that he is not running for President. GERMELINA LACORTE/ INQUIRER MINDANAO
THE 13TH DAY of the month was no deterrent for the impending gubernatorial fight in vote-rich Pangasinan province and the congressional race in Bulacan province. It also did not stop the mother of a missing University of the Philippines (UP) student from pursuing a political career in a town in Zambales province.
Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco and Board Member Amado Espino III, the son of Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr., filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for governor on Tuesday.
Cojuangco described Oct. 13 as a “lucky” day. “I am 58 years old and five plus eight equals 13,” he said.
His father, businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., also closes most of his business transactions on the 13th day of each month, he added.
Governor Espino’s son, who served as Liga ng mga Barangay provincial federation president, is nominated by the National Unity Party (NUP), while Cojuangco is the gubernatorial candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Cojuangco’s vice gubernatorial candidate is Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay, while Espino III will run with reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim.
Governor Espino, who is serving his third term, also filed his COC for representative of the fifth district. He will run against Cojuangco’s wife, reelectionist Rep. Kimi Cojuangco.
The governor, who was also nominated by NUP, said he, his son and their allies are affiliated with the newly formed group, Partido na Pangasinan, which supports Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
Reelectionist Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, who was nominated by LP, said he would campaign with Espino Jr.
Mark Cojuangco and Espino Jr. used to be allies in the NPC.
Bulacan, Zambales
In Bulacan, Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, son of Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, and other provincial candidates felt lucky about Oct. 13 and filed their COCs.
Wearing a baller band with the phrase, “Mar Roxas is my President,” Sy-Alvarado, 32, filed his COC for representative of the first congressional district. He intends to succeed his mother, outgoing Rep. Maria Victoria Sy-Alvarado.
In the City of Meycauayan, Mayor Joan Alarilla filed her COC for the fourth district congressional seat.
Three gubernatorial bets filed their COCs: overseas worker Andrew Gonzales, 67, of the City of San Jose del Monte City; vulcanizing shop employee Emalyn Carmen, 47; and perennial candidate Ernesto Balite from the City of Malolos.
In Zambales, Concepcion Empeño, the mother of missing UP student Karen Empeño, filed her COC for Masinloc town councilor.
A retired teacher, Empeño, 65, will run under the Makabayan coalition, comprised of party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan, among others.
Empeño, who served as principal of Culiat Elementary School in Barangay Culiat in Masinloc, said she prepared for her entry in politics for about a year. She said she wanted to improve drinking water quality in her town and support irrigation projects for farmers.
“I also would like to serve our senior citizens by putting up a gym for them and providing them with free breakfast,” Empeño told the Inquirer on the telephone.
Her daughter and another UP student, Sherlyn Cadapan, have been missing since 2006 and were last seen in Hagonoy, Bulacan. They were reportedly abducted by soldiers under the command of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.
Palparan and two other soldiers are undergoing trial in a Bulacan Regional Trial Court for charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of the students. Palparan had indicated he would run as senator but was stopped last week by the court from leaving his detention cell to process his election registration records.
Pampanga, Isabela
In Pampanga province, reelectionist Gov. Lilia Pineda filed her COC for a last term, in a race many believe she would run unopposed. “We still have until Friday to file COCs. After that, I could say we are running unopposed. As of now I am not yet thinking about that,” she said.
Rep. Joseller Guiao (first district) also filed his COC and will face Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, son of former Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin.
In Isabela province, Victor Dy, brother of incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy III, will challenge his nephew, reelectionist Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy. Mayor Dy, son of the late Gov. Benjamin Dy, was accompanied by his uncles, Governor Dy and Rep. Napoleon Dy (third district) when he filed his COC on Monday.
Reelectionist Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III filed his COC on Tuesday under the Nacionalista Party (NP) while his brother, Vice Gov. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, will also run for reelection under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Vice Governor Albano said their father, Cabagan Mayor Rodolfo Albano Jr., 90, a former Isabela representative, will retire from politics once his term ends next year. Cabagan Vice Mayor Christopher Mamauag, the older Albano’s son-in-law, will seek the mayoral post in Cabagan.
Ma. Lourdes Aggabao, wife of Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, filed her COC for representative of Isabela’s fourth congressional district.
Albay, Laguna
In Albay province, only two aspirants showed up at the Commission of Elections (Comelec) office in Legazpi City on Tuesday the 13th—an unlucky number to many politicians.
Jaime B. Chua, 56, a businessman from Ligao City, filed his COC as an independent candidate for representative of the third district, while lawyer Gregorio Luis Contacto, 53, of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban Party, filed his COC seeking for a congressional seat in the first district.
Contacto, who also ran for the same position in 2013 but lost, will be up against former Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is seeking to reclaim the seat now held by his son, Edcel “Grex” Lagman Jr.
Comelec Provincial Supervisor Romeo Serrano said Chua, of Chinese descent, believed that 13 was his lucky number, contrary to the popular belief.
In Laguna province, among the early congressional contenders who filed their COCs in Sta. Cruz town were reelectionists Joaquin Chipeco Jr. (second district) and former media personality Sol Aragones (third district).
In Oriental Mindoro province, Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan (UNA) came with his complete slate to the Comelec on Monday to file their COCs.
Millionaire Joel Teves, the outgoing vice mayor of Naujan town, is seeking to represent the first district of the province in Congress under UNA.
Cebu, Bohol
Hoping to redeem his first electoral defeat in 2013, former Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Alayon-Nacionalista Party) went to the Comelec office in Cebu City to file his COC for mayor of Talisay City. With him was his grandson, Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas (first district), who is seeking another term.
Gullas, 75, lost the mayoral fight to Johnny de los Reyes, who is expected to run anew.
Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing (sixth district) will try his luck in the mayoral race in Mandaue City under the LP banner. With him when he filed his COC in the city was outgoing Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, who will run for his House seat.
Quisumbing’s family owns Norkis Group of Companies, which is based in Mandaue.
In Bohol province, Rep. Arthur Yap (third district) filed his COC for another term. The NPC candidate was with his wife, Carolyne Varquez Gow-Yap, some mayors and supporters.
In Negros Oriental province, former Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong went to the Comelec provincial office in Dumaguete City to file her COC in a bid to retake her old seat in the House of Representatives.
The LP candidate is running in the first district. She ran for governor in 2013 but lost to Roel Degamo.
Sarangani
In Sarangani province, the younger brother of boxing icon and Rep. Manny Pacquiao is seeking his post.
Ruel Pacquiao, chair of Barangay Apopong in General Santos City, filed his COC for the lone congressional seat on Monday.
General Santos is no longer part of Sarangani, but both areas were under the then undivided province of South Cotabato. Michael Mamukid, Sarangani election supervisor, said his office accepted Ruel’s COC as part of its “ministerial” job. He noted that the candidate had applied for a transfer of residency from General Santos to Alabel town in September, but this has yet to be decided on Oct. 19. Reports from Gabriel Cardinoza, Yolanda Sotelo, Johanne Margarette Macob and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Allan Macatuno, Ron Lopez, Carmela Reyes-Estrope and Justine Dizon, Inquirer Central Luzon; Mar S. Arguelles, Ma. April Mier, Romulo O. Ponte and Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Jhunnex Napallacan, Maya Jajalla and Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas; and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao