BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 19(PIA) — At least 74 individuals filed their certificates of candidacy for various positions in the City for the May 2019 midterm elections.
COMELEC Baguio City Election Officer lawyer John Paul Martin reported that there are at least five bets for congressman, nine for the mayoralty post, six for the vice mayoralty post and 54 for city councilors.
For the Congressional seat, re-electionist Cong. Mark Go of the Nacionalista Party will run against former Cong. Nicasio Aliping Jr. of the Liberal Party (LP), former Mayor Reinaldo Bautista of the LAKAS CMD, incumbent Mayor Mauricio Domogan of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Rafael Wasan under the Pederaslimo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan-Democratic Party of the Philippines (PDDS-DPP.)
For the mayoralty post are incumbent Vice Mayor Edison Bilog under PDP-Laban, incumbent councilors Edgar Avila(UNA) and Leandro Yangot of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), retired police general Benjamin Magalong of the Nationalista People’s Coalition (NPC), former city councilors Jose Molintas(LP) and Antonio “Tony Boy” Tabora Jr.(Lakas CMD), independent candidate Benedicto Alhambra, and former barangay Kagawad Labio Calingayan, also of PDP-Laban.
For vice mayor, four incumbent city councilors will run: lawyer Elmer Datuin (UNA), Engr. Michael Lawana (PFP), lawyer Faustino Olowan (PDP-Laban) and lawyer Peter Fianza (Independent). Other aspirants are human rights lawyer Rene Cortes (LP) and independent candidate Felizardo Garcia.
For the city council, at least 12 females and 42 males are running under various political parties.
Martin said despite the slow paced filing of COCs in the first days, most of the aspirants filed during the last day of filing on October 17. He noted that the COC filing in the City was generally peaceful. He also thanked the candidates and their supporters for behaving while filing their COCs.
The COCs and the list of names of the candidates will be sent to the COMELEC Legal Office for review and come up with the final list of candidates for the 2019 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, in the province of Benguet, COMELEC Benguet Election Supervisor lawyer Julia Elenita Tabangin-Capuyan said at least 30 individuals filed for the top positions in the provincial level.
For the gubernatorial post, incumbent Governor Crescencio Pacalso (Ind.) will run for his second term against former Buguias Mayor Melchor Diclas (PDP-Laban) and minister Alexander Tadina of the Katipunan Party.
For the vice gubernatorial post, incumbent Vice Gov. Florence Tingbaoen (Lakas CMD) will seek re-election against outgoing Board Member Johnny Waguis (PDP-Laban).
For the lone congressional seat of Benguet, aspirants are former Gov. Nestor Fongwan (PDP-Laban), incumbent Mankayan Mayor Materno Luspian (LAKAS) and Keith Thorrsson. **PIA CAR
