BAGUIO CITY—The wife or children of the late Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen can run in his stead as the province’s unopposed gubernatorial candidate died, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said here on Friday.
However, should no one in the family decide to run as Mayaen’s substitute, whoever wins the vice gubernatorial race would automatically sit as governor of the upland province because of the rules governing succession, said lawyer Elenita Tabangin-Capuyan, Mountain Province election supervisor.
Mayaen died from a heart attack on Thursday afternoon at a Baguio hospital where he was airlifted after the 63-year-old governor collapsed in Mountain Province’s capital Bontoc town.
READ: Mountain Province gov dies after cardiac arrest
Reelectionist Vice Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. has assumed the post of governor and would serve Mayaen’s remaining term until June 30. Lacwasan is running against Albert Paday-os.
Mayaen, who was running for a third term, had no opponent, however, he also ran as an independent candidate.
In previous cases involving deceased candidates, Comelec guidelines permitted substitutions only for candidates belonging to political parties.
However, the prohibition on substitutes for deceased independent candidates applies only to deaths that took place “after the last day for the filing of [certificates of candidacy or COC].”
READ: Unopposed Governor Leonard Mayaen of Mountain Province dies
Section 19 of Comelec Resolution No. 9984 exempts Mayaen from this provision, said Capuyan.
Mayaen died five days after the start of the local campaign period.
Res. No. 9984 states: “The substitute for a candidate who died or is disqualified by final judgment, may file a COC up to mid-day of Election Day (May 9); Provided that, the substitute and the substituted have the same surnames.”
It is still not clear if anyone in the family has taken Mayaen’s place in the gubernatorial race, “because they have yet to approach Comelec formally,” Capuyan said.
Mayaen’s widow is Sonia Gawe-Mayaen. He has 6 children, most of whom reside or work overseas.
“If no one runs, then Lacwasan would end up running the province as a permanent governor if he wins. Or Paday-os automatically assumes the gubernatorial seat if he wins,” Capuyan said.
Mayaen also died on the eve of this year’s Lang-ay Festival, which is undertaken as part of the 49th founding anniversary of Mountain Province.
The opening parade and street dancing performances scheduled to take place on Friday had been cancelled.
This year’s festival will also host the 11th International Igorot Conference, an assembly of Cordillera expatriates from various countries held every two years in various parts of the world to promote Igorot cooperation overseas and preserve upland culture. It will proceed on April 6. RAM