North Luzon gubernatorial bets withdraw from May 2019 polls

SEVERAL candidates for governor withdrew from the race on the last day of substitution of candidates on Nov. 30.

Isabela Rep. Napoleon Dy backed out of the gubernatorial race after setting aside his political differences with his brother Faustino II, the outgoing governor.

                With Dy’s decision, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who is seeking the gubernatorial post with Faustino as his vice governor, is running unopposed.

Dy’s former runningmate, former governor Grace Padaca, is running alone.

“My family is more important than politics,” Dy said. 

                  In Cagayan, Tuguegarao City Association of Barangay chairman Larry Ting also withdrew his candidacy for governor.

He was replaced by his brother third district Rep. Randolph Ting.

House Deputy Speaker Eric D. Singson had withdrawn his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for his re-election bid as representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Sur in the May 13, 2019 mid-term polls.

Singson was replaced by his daughter, Kristine Singson-Meehan under the local Bileg Political Party.

Meehan, who is a hotelier, businesswoman and the former first nominee to the ADDA Partylist, is running against Arthur Chua for congressman in the second district of Ilocos Sur.

Other candidates who withdrew their COC on were the following: Eduardo Hermosona for Board Member in the 2nd District of Ilocos Sur, he was replaced by Ceferino Geronilla of Suyo; Rogelio Lampitoc, who was supposedly run for councilor of Sinait, Ilocos Sur; and Teddy Soller, who was supposedly run for congressman in the 1st District of Ilocos Sur.

In Bulacan, former councilor Teddy Natividad is challenging the gubernatorial bid of his brother Christian, the mayor of Malolos.

Natividad substituted for Josephine Banawan as gubernatorial candidate of the Lakas-Christiam Muslim Democrats. – With reports from Freddie Lazaro, Raymund Catindig and Ramon Efren Lazaro