Lawmaker confident in first district congressional bout

WITH three candidates seeking the congressional seat in the first district of Cagayan de Oro, Representative Jose Benjamin Benaldo remains confident in the coming May 2013 midterm election.

Benaldo, who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Friday along with the whole team of United Nationalist Alliance-Padayon Pilipino headed by Mayor Vicente Emano, said he is assured of the support of the people whom he served during his first term after he won the race against Candy Darimbang and Rainer Joaquin Uy in 2010.

"I am confident to win the people's heart in the first district since I know I have done my assignment well in being a good public servant," Benaldo said in a text message.

Benaldo boasts of his accomplishments for having 89 projects in his district.

"This is the final grading and the people should know," he added.

Former Mayor Constantino Jaraula and Councilor Alvin Calingin have also filed their COCs seeking for the same seat as independent candidates while Carmen village chief Rolando Uy is the Liberal Party's candidate for the congressional seat in the first district.

Friday's filing of COC with the UNA-Padayon Pilipino slate drew more than 20,000 supporters as they also marched with the team from the St. Augustine Cathedral to the office of the City Commission on Election (Comelec).

The crowds, coming from different barangays in Cagayan de Oro City, marched with Emano amidst report that they were just following "orders."

A barangay memorandum obtained by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, read that barangay officials, including personnel were directed to show support to Emano and his team.