Poll bets known in Northern Luzon

BAGUIO CITY – Although the campaign season starts March 29, next, politicians and aspirants hyped up their presence with antics and those of their supporters, but no untoward incidents were reported in Northern and Central Luzon as filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) officially closed 5 p.m. on Oct. 5.

 In the Cordillera, the Commission on Elections reminded candidates as they filed their COCs to comply with rules and submit campaign financés and expenditures.

Comelec officials said those who won’t comply would be charged for non-compliance with election rules and meted penalties.

In Baguio, reelectionists Rep. Bernardo Vergara, Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas filed their certificates of candidacy for the same positions under the Timpuyog ti Baguio - United Nationalist Alliance.

The Liberal Party ticket for Baguio has two candidates for the mayoralty -- former councilor Jose Molintas and businessman Freddie Gonzales. The group is headed by businessman Marquez Go who is running for congressman.

Councilor Nicasio Aliping is also running for the congressional post under the PDP-Laban. Under his slate running for councilor are Rizalino Banta, Evelyn Balisong, Pops Carantes and Fred Fangonon.

The complete list of those running for councilor was not released by the Comelec at press time.

For Benguet, Rep. Ronald Morales Cosalan led his co-candidates under the Liberal Party in filing their COCs at the Comelec office Monday morning.

Cosalan filed his COC in the presence of his wife Cara Viterbo Cosalan, other relatives and supporters, three LP candidates for board members of Benguet District 01, namely, Fernando Marino Aritao, Amonario Onon Moresto and Atty. Jerry Apse Marave; and two LP candidates for Benguet District 02 namely, DZUB ZeeRadio broadcaster Fernando Balaodan, and incumbent La Trinidad councilor Jim Botiwey.

Two more LP candidates for board member for District 02 namely, Ricky Angluben and MarcelinoMaliones filed their COCs later in the week.

On the second day of filing, incumbent board member Juan M. Nazarro Jr. filed his candidacy for vice governor under the United Nationalist Alliance, making him the only UNA candidate in the provincial level.

On Wednesday, the third day of filing of COCs, Gov. Nestor Bagtang Fongwan filed his re-election bid along with incumbent Vice Gov. Crescencio C. Pacalso who filed his COC for Benguet Representative.

Pacalso, together with Fongwan who was with the company of his wife Priscilla Tirso Fongwan, relatives and supporters, filed their COCs under the National Unity Party (NUP).

Also filing his COCs under the NUP was incumbent board member Rogelio P. Leon who filed his candidacy for vice governor.

Those who filed their candidacy for board member for Benguet District 01 under the NUP were re-electionists Alfonso L. Fianza, Benjamin C. Saguid, Johnny D. Waguis and Dr. Esteban Piok who retirement as Benguet Provincial Health Officer took effect last Friday, in time for filing his COC.

For NUP board members for Benguet District 02, those who filed were re-electionists Florence B. Tingbaoen, Concepcion D. Balao and Nardo B. Cayat.

The other NUP candidates who filed for board member of District 02 were incumbent La Trinidad ABC chair Robert Namoro and businessman Jack Dulnuan. Independent candidate for board member Loreto B. Buya-an likewise filed his candidacy on the same day. 

On Oct. 4, lawyer and former Bokod mayor Raymundo W. Celino filed his COC as an independent candidate for District 1 board member, while earlier on the same day, Vicente B. Kitongan filed his COC for District 2 board member.

In the morning of the last day of filing on Oct. 5, incumbent board member Nelson Cagas Dangwa who took his oath as a new LP member last week filed his COC for vice governor, while lawyer Jerome W. Selmo filed his COC for governor under the LP banner.

Incumbent board member Apolinario T. Camsol likewise filed his COC for vice governor on the last day.  

Also, in the afternoon of the last day of filing, at least three more independent candidates for board member filed their COCs namely, retired public school principal Amado Hipol, former board member Francisco “Winnie” Golingab Jr., both for District 01; and Benito B. Ticbayan Jr. for District 02.   

An independent candidate by the name of Renan C. Munar also filed his COC for Benguet congressman after lunch of the last day of filing.

Benguet District 01 comprises the towns of Tuba, Sablan, Itogon, Bokod, Kabayan, while District 02 comprises the capital town of La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Kapangan, Kibungan, Bakun, Mankayan and Buguias.

Lawyer ElenitaTabangin-Capuyan, Benguet Provincial Election Supervisor said, her office is still waiting for the complete list of candidates filed with the municipal election officers.

A list of all the candidates in Benguet would be finished by Monday, she said, in time for its submission to Manila on Tuesday.

In Mountain Province,a three cornered fight looms among Rep.  Maximo Dalog of the Liberal Party,  former  undersecretary of Department of  Public Works and Highways   Roy Manao of Laban ng  Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and  former Sabangan mayor Jupiter Dominguez of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA.)

For the governorship, Gov. Leonard Mayaen is facing Harry Dominguez of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC) and engineer Arnold  Pilando.

Vice Gov. BonifacioLacwasan is unopposed.  

Four Sangguniang Panlalawigan are 10 contenders of District 2. Among them are Noe Malinias, Pancho Reyes, Romeo Pagedped , William Beswilan, Jose Tabcao, Randolph Awisan, Winston Calde,  Albert Paday-os, and Jose Tanggacan and Francis Tauli.

It is  a fight among nine contenders for the SP in District 1 namely Alfonso Kiatong, Carino Tamang, Florencio Carlos, Bello Banggot, Johnny Lausan,Paul Lapon, Angelo Fongafong, Stephen Afuyog, and Florence Taguiba.

               

The political intramurals at the municipal level would be as interesting. Except for Barlig mayor Edmund Sidchayao who will run for councilor and Bauko mayor Simon Lacwasan , all the eight incumbent mayors are seeking a fresh mandate.

Paracelis mayor Avelino Amangyen will face retired police officer Gabino Bucok while Mateo Chiyawan of Natonin will have his hands full against Djarma Rafael, younger sister of former mayor Marie Rafael Bana-ag.

Mayor Gabino Ganggangan of Sadanga is challenged by Banat Walis and Gerardo Ackut. Pascual Sacgaca will tangle with former mayor Franklin Odsey.

In Sagada, mayor Eduardo Latawan will slug it out with vice mayor Richard Yodong and Joey Taltala while Anthony Wooden of Tadian will face off with Liberato Domingo and former mayor Sorrero Gullod.

Besao mayor Wellington Pooten will test his mettle against neophyte Domingo Martin. Running against Sabangan mayor Donato Danglose are  Dario Esden, former police inspector Pablo Undalos, Jun bert Gunaden, and Feliciano Liclic.

Trying the fill the vacancy left by Lacwasan in Bauko are former NIA regional director Abraham Akilit, incumbent vice mayor Rudy Patnaan, and incumbent board member Salvador Dalang. Barlig will be choosing among Gerardo Lammaton, Clark Ngaya, and incumbent vice mayor Pio Cupasan.

In Kalinga, incumbent Rep. Manuel Agyao of LP was challenged by former Gov. Macario Duguiang of UNA for the lone district of Kalinga; Gov. Jocel Baac of LP versus Conrado Dieza of PDP Laban for governor; while for vice governor is between Allen Jesse Mangaoang of NP and Farnaw Claver of UNA.

Fourteen candidates are vying for board member of district 1 and 11 in district 2.

In La Union, the Ortega clan is fielding at least 13 candidates in the May 2013 elections.

Leading the list is first district Rep. Victor Ortega who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) last  Monday for his reelection bid.

Gov. Manuel Ortega, who is set to file his COC today along with other clan members and his ticket, is vying for his third and final term.

Also seeking reelection are Abono party-list Rep. Francisco Emmanuelle Ortega III, provincial board member Francisco Ortega Jr., San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega, and city councilors Alfred Ortega, Paolo Ortega and Jayvee Valero, the mayor’s son-in-law. 

Last-term provincial board member Jose “Pepe” Ortega has filed his COC for the vice mayorship of San Fernando City, while outgoing city councilor Jayjay Ortega Orros is vying for the first district seat at the provincial board.

It was also confirmed that retired Col. Roberto “Bungo” Ortega is eyeing a comeback at the Baguio City council while his son, actor Robert Ortega, is also a candidate for councilor of Manila’s fifth district. 

The retired colonel’s daughter, actress Michele Ortega, is running for mayor in Caba, La Union after establishing residency in the town for more than a year now. 

Rep. Ortega, Gov. Ortega, Mayor Ortega, board member Ortega Jr., Pepe and the retired colonel are sons of the late speaker pro tempore Francisco Ortega. Another brother, Ramon Ortega, is the incumbent president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in San Fernando. 

Rep. Ortega III and councilor Alfred Ortega are sons of the governor along with Manuel Victor Ortega Jr., incumbent president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-La Union chapter. 

Councilor Paolo Ortega is a son of Mayor Ortega.

In Pangasinan, reelectionist Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and his slate for provincial positions trooped to the Commission on Elections’ provincial office here Wednesday, confident of victory in next year’s polls.

Espino, who is seeking his third and final term, said he is happy with the support of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) under the Cojuangcos and BiskegnaPangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a local political party founded by Secretary Antonio Villar Jr., chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, for his ticket.

Espino won by more than 500,000 votes over his closest rival, former governor Victor Agbayani, in the 2010 elections. Agbayani filed an electoral protest which is still pending.

Espino’s running mate is reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr.

NPC provincial chairman Mark Cojuangco said this is the first time he has seen overwhelming support extended by local officials for the Espino-Calimlim tandem.

In Aurora, Sen. Edgardo Angara, who is running for governor, was the first candidate to file his COC in this province.

Angara arrived at the Commission on Elections office at the provincial capitol at around 10:23 a.m. together with his running mate and nephew, Rommel Angara, outgoing Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and the entire slate for board members of the Laban ngDemokratikong Pilipino.

Asked why he filed his COC early, he said “the early bird catches the worm.”

“When you file early, that means you are ready,” he told newsmen.

There was no word yet when Angara’s gubernatorial rival, Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras, would file his COC.

In Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III filed his certificate of candidacy amid cheers from his supporters who are all wearing red. Dy is running under the NPC.

Vice Gov. Rodolfo Albano III and his father first District Rep. Rodolfo Jr. and other incumbent provincial and municipal officials, also in red, were present during the event, but did not file their COCs yet.

In Angeles City, a newly organized local political party endorsed the candidacies of incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting for the 2013 midterm elections.

In their first city assembly here, leaders and members of the Partido Abe Kapampangan (ABE) also approved a resolution adopting Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao as the party’s official candidate for congressman in the first district of Pampanga.

ABC president Alex Cauguiran said his party has also endorsed the candidacies of incumbent city councilors Edu Pamintuan, Jericho Aguas, Maricel Morales, Alex Indiongco and Arvin Suller, and former councilors Ruben Maniago, Carlito Ganzon and Romeo Taruc.

Amos Rivera, head of the city’s Local Urban Poor Affairs and Housing Office, and Danica Lacson, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman of Barangay Lourdes Northwest, were also nominated to the city council.

“We believe that we have a good team that can pursue what we have started. Angeles City needs leaders who can deliver and ensure that government services shall at all time, be readily available and accessible to all the Angelenos,” Pamintuan said. -- By March Fianza, Gina Dizon, Angel Baybay, Peter Balocnit, Jennelyn Mondejar, Liam Anacleto, George Trillo and Jerry Padilla