One Cebu members, Magpale and 3 other Bakud members to file their COCs

OFFICES of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices are expected to be crowded today.

Aside from being the last day of the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC), it’s also the best day to file the COC to those who believe in feng shui, the Chinese system of geomancy.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, in earlier interviews, said Mandaue City Councilor Editha Cabahug told her about this practice.

Magpale said the date of filing the COC depends on the candidate’s birthday.

The vice governor will file her COC at the Provincial Comelec Office by 8 a.m. She will be accompanied by Provincial Board (PB) Members Miguel Antonio Magpale and Jude Thaddeus Durano-Sybico, who will both run as PB members representing the fifth district, and former tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano, who will run for the fifth congressional district seat.

Magpale, who will run for reelection under the Liberal Party, is the runningmate of lawyer Hilario “Junjun” Davide III.

Their opponents at the One Cebu Party will also file their COCs today.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia (third district), One Cebu’s gubernatorial bet, earlier said party members would try to file their COCs simultaneously, from the governor candidate down to those running for the PB.

Toledo Vice Mayor Arlene Zambo, a One Cebu member, said they’ve always believed in feng shui as a harbinger of good luck.

“Ever since we’ve been basing the dates and time ug maayo ra man pud ang lakaw (and the outcome have been good),” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

She said she talked to Gov. Gwen Garcia and Pablo John last week and the matter of when to file their COCs was brought up.

She said she told them about feng shui and asked for their birthdays. And it was decided that they should file their COCs today.

Zambo and her father, Toledo Mayor Aurelio Espinosa, will seek reelection.

Based on feng shui, she said, a good time for them and their whole slate to file is around 11 a.m.

Zambo said she believes it will be the same time Gwen and Pablo John will file theirs.

The governor, chairperson of One Cebu, said they don’t need to have a political party convention when filing their COCs.

“Let me assure you that the party is moving,” Gwen told reporters.

She said what is important is the groundwork. “Kaning (The) convention is really more (a) show, pump and pageantry,” she said.

The governor will run for congresswoman in the third district after she abandoned her plan to seek a seat in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Pablo John said One Cebu has adopted Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and their slate of councilors as guest candidates.

He also confirmed that Nerissa Soon-Ruiz will be One Cebu’s candidate for the sixth congressional district.

“I have seen no reason why we should put up a slate in Mandaue. I believed in the leadership of Mayor Jonas Cortes and Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede,” he said.

Pablo John said they’ve always had a good working relationship with Mandaue City officials.

He said he admires the political unity that Cortes has forged in Mandaue.

“Even our former One Cebu allies have already recognized his leadership. We do not wish to upset the political unity in Mandaue, as we believe that unity is essential to Mandaue’s continued progress,” Pablo John said in a text message.