3 fight for Congress position in Ifugao

BY DAN B. CODAMON

LAGAWE, Ifugao- It will be a three- cornered showdown for the lone congressional district seat and the gubernatorial position come May 14 elections.

Incumbent Rep. Solomon Chungalao who is running for re-election for his third and final term, is being challenged by former Banaue mayor Dr. Wesley Dulawan and young lawyer Placido Wachayna Jr.

The irony: Chungalao, who is allied with the present administration, is running without a party since his Liberal Party under the group of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is not recognized by the Commission on Elections.

It was the LP under the Franklin Drilon wing which was accredited by the Comelec and is the party of Dr. Dulawan while Wachayna is running as independent.

For the position of governor, incumbent Gov. Glenn Prudenciano (Lakas- CMD) is facing former Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr., who is out to reclaim his old post but running without a political party, and board member Eugene Ballitang running under the LDP.

In the vice gubernatorial race, four candidates filed their certificates of candidacy. Incumbent Vice Gov. Noli Maguiwe is running under the Lakas- CMD while board members Pedro Mayam-o, Nora Dinamling and Sherween Cappleman are all running as independent candidates.

For the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, there are seven candidates for the four positions of District I and 12 candidates also for the four seats allotted for District II.

This, as campaigning is going on full blast, the Comelec here said it cannot fully implement the Fair Election Law with regards to posting of campaign materials in designated poster areas due to limited spaces.

Provincial Election Supervisor Ricardo Bulintao said that they can not strictly implement the law because to do so would deprive many candidates of their opportunity to campaign, which is unfair.

He added there were no reported election-related violence or disturbances in the province.