Ebdanes file candidacy in Zambales

IBA, Zambales -- Three members of the Ebdane family, together with their newly formed Sulong Zambales party candidates, filed their formal candidacy Wednesday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here.

Among the Ebdanes who filed their certificates of candidacy were Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who is seeking for reelection; Representative Jun Omar Ebdane, who is also seeking for reelection in the second district; and Rundy Ebdane, who is running for mayor of this town.

The Ebdanes were accompanied by party members Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II, who is also seeking for reelection; Mayor Jay Khonghun of Subic town; Mayor Jose Rodriguez of San Marcelino; Mayor Peter Lim of San Narciso; Mayor Carolyn Fariñas of San Felipe; Mayor Ronald Apostol of Cabangan; Mayor Generoso Amog of Palauig; Mayor Desiree Edora of Masinloc; and Mayor Jean Moraña of Candelaria, who will be running for a seat in the Provincial Board.

Former Subic mayor Jeffrey Khonghun also filed his candidacy for the first district representative post.

Also running under the Ebdane ticket for the Provincial Board are Jonathan Khonghun, Jose Benedicto Felarca, and Jose Gutierrez for the first district; lawyers Sancho Abasta, Sam Ablola, Roberto Blanco, and Renato Collado; Engr. Porfirio Elamparo; former Cabangan mayor Jess Mendigorin; and Mayor Jean Moraña of Candelaria.

Ebdane said he and his partymates have banded together under the Sulong Zambales party despite belonging to different national political groups, in order to continue the effective implementation of local development initiatives under his administration.

The party, which was formally created only in March this year, is the first local political party to be founded in Zambales.

The Ebdanes, according to rumors, will be facing another political clan headed by former Zambales governor Armor Deloso, who is rumored to challenge the eldest Ebdane; Cheryl Deloso, who will challenge Omar in the second district representative post; and Ad Hebert Deloso, who will challenge Rundy Ebdane as mayor of Iba town, which is the center of Zambales. (Anthony Bayarong/Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)