LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — A gubernatorial bet in the province of Benguet has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Benguet Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Elenita Julia Tabangin-Capuyan said that former Vice Governor Nelson Dangwa has filed his withdrawal of his Certificate of Candidacy as a gubernatorial candidate last Saturday (January 15). She said that Dangwa did not relay the reason for his withdrawal.
Dangwa, son of the late Benguet Congressman Samuel Dangwa, filed his COC under the Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma (PDR). His running mate under the PDR, former Governor Crescencio Pacalso, also withdrew his COC for the congressional race in the lone district of Benguet in November last year.
Tabangin said that they immediately notified the COMELEC Central office of Dangwa’s withdrawal so that his name will not be included in the list of candidates in the official ballots.
The COMELEC said that there is no deadline for voluntary withdrawal of COC among qualified candidates for the 2022 elections. It only set the November 15, 2021 as deadline for candidates to withdraw their COCs for them to be substituted by party mates.
The withdrawal of Dangwa reduced the aspirants for the gubernatorial post to five, namely, incumbent Governor Melchor Diclas who is running under the PDP Laban, incumbent Board Member Robert Namoro of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Alexander Tadina of the Katipunan Party, Atty. Jerry Marave of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and independent candidate Jerome Wakat.
For the congressional race, aspirants include Benguet legislative caretaker and ACT-CIS Representative Eric Go Yap who is running under the United Benguet Party, incumbent Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, and lawyers Thorrsson Keith and Samson Paran who are both independent candidates.**JDP/ RMC- PIA –CAR
