Inventor to challenge Gullas

AN INVENTOR and businessman will challenge Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district) in the congressman’s bid for mayor in Talisay City.

Delos Reyes filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday, the last day of filing.

Incumbent and returning officials of the district also filed their COCs yesterday.

Delos Reyes, who invented Canker Sore Drops, will run as a member of the Liberal Party.

His running mate, Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante, and members of his lineup also filed their COCs.

Delos Reyes, in an interview yesterday, said that despite Gullas’ popularity, he isn’t afraid to run for the city’s top post.

“Ngano man nga mahadlok man ko niya? Ako ba diay ang iyang kontra? Ang iyang kontra kay ang katawhan (Why would I be afraid of him? I am not his opponent. His opponents are the people),” Delos Reyes said.

Villarante told reporters he and his party members lauded Delos Reyes for deciding to run despite the odds.

But Villarante said he believes that a lot of Talisaynons will support Delos Reyes because of his advocacy for clean politics.

Delos Reyes’s name was first known to Talisay City residents when he ran and lost against incumbent Mayor Socrates Fernandez in 2007. In 2010, he ran for Provincial Board member but also lost.

Change of mind

He also thought of running for city councilor but changed his mind.

Two hours after Delos Reyes and his group submitted their COCs, former Talisay City vice mayor Aberdovey Belleza also went to the Talisay City Commission on Elections (Comelec) and filed his COC for vice mayor. He will run as independent.

Belleza was accompanied by Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong and members of the city council, supporters, friends and family.

The vice mayoral race will be a three-cornered fight, with Villarante and Vice Mayor Alan Bucao also running for the same post.

Meanwhile, members of the Alayon Party in the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga filed their COCs yesterday.

In Minglanilla, Vice Mayor Elanito Peña will run for mayor. Peña was accompanied by his running mate, Councilor Jojo Selma, and members of his councilor lineup, including outgoing town Mayor Eduardo “Eddiesel” Selma.

Peña’s opponent, former town mayor Marlo Cañada, also filed his COC yesterday.

In San Fernando, former town mayor Lakambini Reluya and her husband, Panadtaran Barangay Chief Ricardo Reluya Jr, filed their COCs for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

In Sibonga, Mayor Lionel Bacaltos and his lineup also filed their COCs yesterday.