Josons seek to regain rule in Nueva Ecija

By Celso M. Cajucom

CABANATUAN City, Nueva Ecija -- The Josons appear persistent in regaining political rule in Nueva Ecija as gleaned from the filing of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) by Mayor Adrianne Mae Joson Cuevas of Palayan City and Edward Thomas Joson, the son of deceased former governor Tomas Joson 3rd on Friday, October 1.
    Edward is paired with Cuevas as the vice gubernatorial bet.
    Cuevas is serving her last term this year as mayor of Palayan City.
    Her daughter Vianne also filed her CoC for mayor of the city on October 1, the first day of filing of CoCs.
    In filing her CoC, the elder Cuevas, a national treasurer of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), was accompanied by former governor and former National Food Authority administrator Edno Joson.
    Voters are expecting an exciting one-on-one fight for governorship between the incumbent Gov. Aurelio Umali and Adrianne Mae Joson Cuevas as well as Edward Joson against Umali's brother and incumbent Vice Gov. Anthony Umali.
    Rommel Rama, provincial supervisor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), confirmed that the commission had processed 12 prospective candidates as of Sunday, October 3 and that Comelec was waiting for the remaining days before the Oct. 8 deadline for the CoC filing lapses.
    The prospective candidates filed their CoCs through their authorized representatives with the Comelec local offices in 27 towns and five cities while observing strict health protocols amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
    The candidates included Gapan City Mayor Emerson Pascual, who was vying for the position of representative of Nueva Ecija's Fourth District.
    Emerson's sister and provincial board member Joy Pascual filed her CoC for mayor of Gapan City with incumbent Vice Mayor Inocencio Bautista.
    The Pascuals are members of PDP-Laban.
    Joy's challenger is Dr. Rhommel Natividad, the son of deceased former Gapan mayor Ernesto Natividad, while Emerson is facing incumbent Rep. Maricel Natividad Nagano.
    In General Natividad town, Larry Soriano Ponce is running for mayor with Vice Mayor Emelita Manahan as his running mate against incumbent Mayor Anita Arocena.
    Edno Joson confirmed that he is running for mayor in Quezon town to challenge his younger brother and incumbent Mayor Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson.
    Edno has publicly lambasted Boyet for siding with the Umalis.
    In Jaen town, former mayor Antonio Esquivel and reelectionist Mayor Josefino Angeles of Santa Rosa town also filed their CoCs.
    In San Jose City, incumbent Mayor Mario "Kokoy" Salvador and his son, Alexis, will be challenged by former mayor Jose Felimon and Ronald Lee Hortizuela.