LIKE a game of “musical chairs,” several politicians in northern and Central Luzon beat the Dec. 10 deadline to enter the races in next year’s national elections through substitution.
In Bulacan province, resigned Postmaster General Josefina de la Cruz went to the Commission on Elections’ office in the City of Malolos on the eve of the deadline to file the form to replace her brother, Dr. Pedrito Mendoza, in the gubernatorial contest.
De la Cruz, a former governor, is challenging reelectionist Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado.
Actor Phillip Salvador also filed his candidacy for Bulacan vice governor, substituting for Gregorio Buenaventura, and will face off with Alvarado’s running mate, reelectionist Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, also an actor.
Salvador is running with De la Cruz under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
In Ilocos Sur province, former Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice governor and instead filed another COC for councilor of Narvacan town. Singson, a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), replaced Epifania Canaria.
His younger brother, Board Member Jeremias Singson, will now run for vice governor.
In Pangasinan province, former child star Christopher “Toff” de Venecia has substituted for his mother, incumbent Rep. Gina de Venecia, in the fourth district congressional race. The congresswoman withdrew her COC on Dec. 8.
Toff is the youngest son of De Venecia and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. He appeared in the television shows “Ober da Bakod” and “Billy Bilyonaryo” in the 1990s.
In a statement, Gina De Venecia said the family believed it was the right time for Toff to enter politics.
LP ticket collapses
In Dagupan City, the local ticket of the Liberal Party collapsed on Dec. 10 after its vice mayoral candidate, Councilor Alipio Serafin Fernandez, withdrew, citing differences with its mayoral candidate, reelectionist Mayor Belen Fernandez (not related to him).
Councilor Fernandez, whose father is former Immigration Commissioner and former Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., said he could no longer work with the mayor. He said his family was keeping its options open on throwing its support for the mayor’s opponent, Celia Lim, who is running with her son, reelectionist Vice Mayor Brian Lim, under the NP.
Dean Bryan Kua, barangay captain of Pogo Chico in Dagupan, filed his candidacy as a substitute candidate for the councilman.
In Pampanga province, Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales, who has served the city for 21 years, reentered the mayoral race two months after he withdrew his candidacy. He earlier fielded his wife, Ninia, but the latter withdrew her COC on Wednesday.
Morales replaced Aksyon Demokratiko candidate Willie Feliciano.
Wife, brother
In La Union province, outgoing Rep. Victor Ortega withdrew from the race for mayor of San Fernando City and fielded his wife, Mary Jane, for the position. His brother, Mario, also filed his COC for governor, substituting for Janet Cartas, a village councilor of Caba town.
Mario is running against his nephew, outgoing Abono Rep. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III.
In Isabela province, former Rep. Edwin Uy filed his COC to replace his niece, Marianne Uy-Go, in the second congressional district race.
Uy, who is running under PDP-Laban, will again face reelectionist Rep. Ana Cristina Go, who beat him in the 2013 elections. Reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Tonette Orejas and Justine Dizon, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Gabriel Cardinoza, Yolanda Sotelo, Villamor Visaya Jr. and Leoncio Balbin Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon