Pacquiao, 18 candidates running for Congress unopposed

MANILA -- Nineteen candidates vying for seats in the House of Representatives, including reelectionist Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, are running unopposed, Commission on Elections (Comelec) data show.

Only one vote is needed for each candidate running unopposed to win the next year's polls, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.

"We are a first-past-the-post system; meaning, you have to get the most number of votes cast in an election. Thus, theoretically, if no votes are cast, even an unopposed candidate will have no basis for winning," Jimenez added.

The 18 other unopposed candidates are:

1. Josephine Veronique Resurreccion Lacson-Noel (Malabon City, lone district)

2. Ma. Theresa Brondial Bonoan-David (Manila, fourth district)

3. Marcelino Reyes Teodoro (Marikina City, first district)

4. Rodolfo Castro Farinas (Ilocos Norte, first district)

5. Maria Rachel Jimenez Arenas (Pangasinan, third district)

6. Dakila Enriquez Cua (Quirino, lone district)

7. Enrique Murphy Cojuangco (Tarlac, first district)

8. Joseph Gilbert Francisco Violago (Nueva Ecija, second district)

9. Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal’s first district)

10. Isidro Santos Rodriguez Jr. (Rizal’s second district)

11. Reynaldo Villar Umali (Oriental Mindoro’s second district)

12. Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez (Leyte’s first district)

13. Maria Carmen Solamillo Zamora (Compostella Valley’s first district)

14. Rommel Camos Amatong (Compostella Valley’s second district)

15. Thelma Zosa Almario (Davao Oriental’s second district)

16. Jose Christopher "Kit" Belmonte (Quezon City, new district)

17. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. (Cebu, 1st district)

18. Erlpe John Amante (Agusan del Norte, second district)

Belmonte is a nephew of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., while Gullas is a grandson of Cebu's first district Representative Eduardo Gullas.

Amante is the incumbent governor of Agusan del Norte and brother of the province's incumbent representative Angelica Amante-Matba.

According to the Comelec, there are 18,053 elective positions up for grabs in the May polls. Of the number, 233 are for district representatives. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)