BAGUIO CITY—The wife or any of the children of the late Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen can run in his stead as the province’s unopposed gubernatorial candidate, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said here on Friday.
But should no one in the family decide to run, whoever wins the vice gubernatorial race would automatically sit as governor because of the rules on succession, said lawyer Elenita Tabangin-Capuyan, Mountain Province election supervisor.
Mayaen, 63, died from a heart attack on Thursday at a Baguio hospital where he was airlifted after he collapsed in Bontoc town.
Reelectionist Vice Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. assumed the post of governor and would serve Mayaen’s remaining term until June 30. Lacwasan is running against Albert Paday-os.
Mayaen was running unopposed for a third term. He also ran as an independent candidate.
In previous cases involving deceased candidates, Comelec guidelines allowed substitutions only for candidates belonging to political parties.
But 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 (COCs). 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.
The resolution 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.”
Mayaen’s widow is Sonia Gawe-Mayaen. They have six children, most of them live 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 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 for Friday had been canceled.
The festival will also host the 11th International Igorot Conference, an assembly of Cordillera expatriates from various countries, held every two years to promote Igorot cooperation and preserve upland culture. It will proceed on April 6 in Bontoc. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon