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Friday, January 23, 2004
Bets outnumber seats three times in Cebu province
By Karen M. Flores
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THERE are almost three times as many candidates as there are positions available this May 10 in Cebu Province.
According to records of the provincial office of the Commission on
Elections (Comelec), there are 1,469 candidates competing for the 550 seats in the province’s 47 municipalities and five cities as well as the Capitol.
While many election officers said the number of candidates in their areas this year is more or less the same in the last election, some said they were surprised with the interest politics has generated in their areas judging from the number of candidates there.
In small towns like Boljoon and Alcoy, there were as many as 26 candidates for councilor. Municipal councils only have eight seats available for regular members.
Bigger towns like Naga and Carcar, where competition can be expected to be tough, there were more candidates. Naga has 35 candidates while Carcar has 41.
Like the smaller municipalities, only 10 seats are up for election there (mayor, vice mayor, eight councilors).
Bogo, where the hold of Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez Jr. and his family is strong, has the least number of candidates at 13.
Among the five cities, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, where the opposition is vocal, has the most number of candidates. Lapu-Lapu has 56 while Talisay, with the exit of the incumbent mayor, has 52.
The increase in the number of those who filed certificates of candidacy is largely attributed to the presidential elections where most of those aspiring for the country’s top seat strive to put up their own local slates.
Unlike in the 2001 local election when candidates were either allied with the People Power Coalition or the local opposition Alayon, this time, there were more groups fielding bets.
There are those under Lakas-CMD, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, LDP, Liberal Party, Alayon, Bakud (of Rep. Ace Durano in the fifth district), Independent Masa and even the resurrected KBL (Kilusang Bagong Laban).
(January 23, 2004 issue)
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