DAGUPAN CITY -- Undecided in the past, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) General Leopoldo Bataoil filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the provincial election office Tuesday morning.

He is running for congressman at the second district of Pangasinan.

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As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, among those who have filed their COCs for the same position were Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani (wife of second district Representative Victor Aguedo Agbayani who is running for governor); and Maria Blanca Kim Lokin, a former Cibac party-list congressman.

Bataoil is with the provincial party Biskeg na Pangasinan (his national party affiliation is yet to be known as of this writing Tuesday), Agbayani is running under the Liberal Party (LP), while Lokin is with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

“The signs came in time. My wife and children gave their blessing. We will make up for low funds with greater funds. God’s greater plan prevails,” Bataoil said in a text message.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Arturo Lomibao will not run for the fourth district congressional seat.

Although he never categorically said from the very start until his last interview several days ago that he will run for congressman, Lomibao issued a press statement Tuesday afternoon that he have decided not to run as congressman.

“They say that courage is not only having the will to fight but also the will to step back if need be. As the Prayer of Serenity imparts … God, grant me the serenity to accept the things which I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” he stated.

To his supporters and leaders at the fourth district, he asked for understanding.

“This is a painful decision to make, knowing how tirelessly you worked for me, how unselfishly you sacrificed your time, effort and resources, and how steadfastly you believed in me, unmindful of my final decision. I know you were determined to stay with me until the day of the election, hoping that together, we will march onward to victory,” Lomibao said.

“Everyone had one common thing to say: we want to change. But there comes a point in time when decisions had to be made after making an assessment of one’s changes. Unfortunately, the avenue of change we call election, is rather dark and hazy. Thus, I have decided to forego with my intention to run and just concentrate on my work and family,” he added.

Meanwhile, at the press conference held after his filing of COC, the media practitioners here met Victor Agbayani far different from the soft-spoken Victor who served as governor for nine years.

“I was leaving a very peaceful and constructive life in Congress dahil ako ay ipinagpala na mapasama sa Committee on Rules. If you are a member of the said committee, you are assistant majority leader, one week every month I am the majority leader sa plenary session; that aside from me holding different committees,” Victor said.

“Kailangan naman may alternative dito sa Pangasinan. Hindi puwede na pagdating ng araw ng election, iisa ang pangalan na andon, na kahit ayaw mo siya, nanalo siya,” he reasoned.

Agbayani and vice gubernatorial running mate former vice governor Oscar Lambino are with the Liberal Party.

They will be challenging Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Mapandan Mayor Jose Ferdianand Calimlim Jr. (for vice governor) of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Biskeg na Pangasinan.