137 politicos gun for posts in Benguet

EARLY filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) resulted in the surge of hopefuls vying for different elective positions in Benguet province.

As the filing of COCs ended at 5 p.m. Friday (October 5) at the Commission on Elections compound, some 70 politicians in Baguio City registered to join in the May 2013 elections.

Six candidates led by incumbent Representative Bernardo Vergara of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Councilor Nicasio Aliping (independent) and businessman Marquez Go of the Liberal Party (LP) filed their COCs for congressman with other independent aspirants Miguel Arvisu, Roly Manuel and Richard Zarate.

Seven contenders filed their COCs for the mayoralty post led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan (UNA), Freddie Gonzales (LP), Jose Molintas of Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC), Ramon Labo Jr., with independent candidates Guillermo Hernandez, Junior Mina and Peter Puzon.

Five aspirants, meanwhile, filed their COCs led by Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas (NP), Van Oliver Dicang (NPC), Dwight Bello III, Francis Padawil and Jeffrey Pinic as independent candidates.

Meanwhile, some 52 individuals filed for the 12 city council positions. They are Joel Alangsab (NP), Arthur Allad-iw (LP), Gerardo Antolin (Ind.), Anthony Araos (NPC), Fred Bagbagen(NP), Evelyn Balisong (Ind.), Rocky Thomas Balisong (NP), Rizalino Banta(Ind.), Anna May Baquirin (Ind.), Pablo Batnag(Ind.), Joderek Bautista(NP), Edison Bilog(LP), Emmanuel Carantes (Ind.), Richard Cariño( NP), Isabelo Cosalan Jr.(LP), Robin Coteng (Ind.), Elmer Datuin (UNA), Mario De Guzman (Ind.), Jeffrey Dimas (Ind.), Frisco Domalsin (LDP-Laban), Rebecca Dulawan (LDP), Lalaine Estolas (Ind.) and George Dumawing (UNA).

Other council aspirants are Fred Fangonon (Ind.), Peter Fianza (Ind.) Basilio Fongayao (NPC), John Glenn Gaerlan (Ind.), Zandro Ico (Ind.), Perfecto Itliong (Ind.), Richard Jimenez (Ind.), Olando Lardizabal (LP), Bruce Limmayog (LP), Federico Mandapat (UNA), Mabini Maskay (UNA), Roberto Ocampo (NPC), Willy Occidental (LP), Faustino Olowan( LP), Roberto Ortega (UNA), Ambrosio Palafox (Ind.), Rudolfo Paraan (LP), Ronald Perez (NP), Ramon Ramos Sr. (Ind.), Loida Santiago (Ind.), Elaine Sembrano (NP), Betty Lourdes Tabanda (NUP), Edilberto Tenefrancia (Ind.), Romeo Umali (Ind.), Michael Uy (Ind.), Peter Wasing (Ind.), Philian Weygan-Allan (NP), Leandro Yangot Jr. (LP) and Agaton Yaranon (LP).

Some 32 candidates are vying for different electoral posts in Benguet. Governor Nestor Fongwan of the National Unity Party (NUP) will be pitted against Jerome Selmo of LP.

Former and incumbent board members Apolinario Camsol (LDP), Nelson Dangwa (LP), Rogelio Leon (NUP) and Juan Nazarro (UNA) filed their COCs for the vice governor position to be vacated by three-termer Crescencio Pacalso.

Pacalso of the National Unity Party, meanwhile, will go up against with Representative Ronald Cosalan of the Liberal Party and security guard Renan Munar.

Thirteen hopefuls have also filed their COCs for six positions in the Provincial Board. They are Ricardo Angluben (LP), Concepcion Balao (NUP), Fernando Balaodan (LP), Jim Botiwey (LP), Loreto Buyaan (Ind.), Nardo Cayat (NUP), Jack Dulnuan (NUP), Rodrigo Kato (Ind.), Vicente Kitongan (NUP), Marcelino Maliones (LP), Robert Namoro (NUP), Benito Ticbayen (Ind.) and Florence Tingaboen (NUP). (With Sunnex)