PDP candidates beat Comelec early birds

PARTIDO Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) candidates led by congressional-aspirant Councilor Nicasio Aliping filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) early Monday morning.

Aliping was joined by his fellow PDP-Laban party-mates Engineer Rizalino Banta, Emmanuel Carrantes, Ana May Baquirin and Evelyn Balisong, all aiming for a seat at the Baguio City Council.

The city’s number one councilor was joined by his family members and more than a hundred supporters all wearing red shirts when he filed his COC at 8:18 a.m. at the Comelec compound.

However, the first to file a COC in Baguio City is former village head Fred Fangonon, an independent candidate for councilor, who submitted his requirements to the city election officer at 8:12 a.m.

Fangonon, an author of an eco-composting book and a pioneer in the composting industry in the city, said he can help in the solid waste management problems of the city.

In Benguet, the first to file the COC was Marino Aritao of the Liberal Party who aimed for a seat at the Provincial Board.

Benguet Representative Ronald Cosalan filed his COC past 10 a.m. Monday under the Liberal Party (LP).

Cosalan, the LP provincial head in the province, said their party is almost complete, including mayors who will also file their COCs in their municipal election offices this week.

“We expect to field all 13 mayoralty candidates in all municipalities. We have three candidates for both the first and second district and they are all going to file their COCs this week,” Cosalan said.

He said he is waiting for the decision of his party-mate, Board Member Nelson Dangwa, whom he said will either run for governor or vice governor.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan is also reported to be filing his reelection bid this Wednesday under the National Unity Party, while his party-mate Vice Governor Cresencio Pacalso is reportedly vying for the congressional seat.

Cosalan said the LP remains strong in the region considering it is the ruling party in the country, but he stressed the national coalition between the Nacionalista and Nationalist People’s Coalition will no longer trickle down to the local levels.

Meanwhile, other local candidates are expected to file their COCs this week, including the local coalition of Baguio Representative Bernardo Vergara, Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Vice Mayor Fariñas under the Timpuyog ti Baguio party.

Incumbent Councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Fred Bagbagen, Philian Weygan-Allan, Nicasio Palaganas, Elmer Datuin, Joel Alangsab are rumored to be part of the Timpuyog local coalition. They are reportedly joined by former councilors Edilberto Tenefrancia, Elaine Sembrano and Federico Mandapat and other prominent names former Police Regional Office Cordillera Director Villamor Bumanglag and lawyer Ronald Perez.

However, Timpuyog party officials led by Mayor Domogan said the final list of councilors will only be known when they file their COCs anytime this week.

LP candidates in Baguio City are still finalizing their line-up with incumbent Councilors Isabelo Cosalan and Edison Bilog, while Councilor Peter Fianza is reportedly either running as an independent candidate or joining Aliping’s PDP-Laban slate.

Councilor Richard Cariño, meanwhile, will also seek for re-election under the Nacionalista Party.

The local LP slate is also reportedly fielding Regional Trial Court judge Edilberto Claravall, former Councilors Jose Molintas and Leandro Yangot aiming for the top three positions in the city.

The Baguio LP slate will file their COCs on the last day of filing on Friday.

Former mayor Ramon Labo is aiming for a comeback as the city’s chief executive while businessman Mark Go is reportedly running for congressman.

The Comelec officially opened its offices Monday to candidates who will be filing their COCs from Monday to Friday for the 2013 national and local polls.

A total of 18,022 national and local positions are to be filled up in the May 13, 2013 elections.

Candidates running for senatorial positions should file their COCs at the Project Management Office at the Comelec Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.

For local positions, those who are running for congressional seats may file their COCs at the Office of National Capital Region Director for Metro Manila; Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor for provincial officials, including congressmen; Office of the City/Municipal Election Officer for city/municipal officials; Office of the Armm Regional Election Director for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor and vice governor; and Office of the Armm Provincial Election Supervisor for Armm legislative assembly members.

“The certificate of candidacy shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representative, whose authority shall be in writing, under oath and attached,” Comelec officials said.

Positions at stake in next year’s polls are for 12 senators, 229 district members of the House of Representatives, 80 governors, 80 vice governors, 766 members of the Provincial Government, 138 city mayors, 138 city vice mayors, 1,532 members of the City Council, 1,496 municipal mayors, 1,496 municipal vice mayors, and 11,972 members of the Municipal Government.

Other positions available are one regional governor, one regional vice governor, and 24 regional assemblymen for the Armm.

COCs will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if there are still persons intending to file COCs inside the offices at 4:45 p.m. of October 5, the Comelec has authorized the receiving officers to prepare a complete list containing the names of said persons, consecutively numbered, and the time of listing. (With Sunnex)