Saturday, March 31, 2007 2 more join Soc, Gabby in Talisay race
AN independent mayoralty aspirant filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) at the last minute Thursday, setting a four-cornered race in Talisay City for the May 14 polls.
Araceli Go, a Barangay Poblacion resident, beat the midnight deadline of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last March 29, making her the only woman vying for the city’s top elective post.
Go is also the only mayoralty candidate running as an independent, as her three opponents are supported by political parties.
Mariela Remoroza, city election assistant, said Go arrived at the Comelec office at a quarter to 12, with her running mate Dulce Canizares and lone candidate for councilor, Fabio Ontong Jr.
“We worked overtime because they completed filing their paper requirements at 12:20 a.m.,” Remoroza said.
Sun.Star Cebu learned that this is Go’s second mayoralty try. She ran in the 2004 elections, a five-way fight that Mayor Socrates Fernandez won.
Fernandez, who is backed by Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), and his official line-up under the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, filed their COCs last Wednesday.
Last Thursday’s deadline was considered the busiest for the Talisay Comelec, as the groups of mayoralty contenders Gabriel Leyson and businessman Johnny V. delos Reyes also filed their respective COCs.
With his candidates for councilor in tow, Leyson arrived at the Comelec past 3 p.m. while Reyes’ group came two hours later.
Leyson told reporters that he is pursuing infrastructure, livelihood programs and peace and order as among his top priorities if he gets elected.
While the former Cebu City councilor is getting support from opposition leaders in Talisay, Reyes is banking on the urban poor.
Unlike the other mayoralty candidates, JVR arrived at the Comelec with at least 1,000 flag- and candle-bearing supporters.
Meanwhile, Ontong’s last-minute filing brought to four the number of independent bets for the 10-seat Talisay City Council.
The other three are Marcelo Gimeno, Antonio Vargas and Nestor Torrefranca.
Gimeno, an ally of Gullas, ran as an independent candidate after his bid for councilor was reportedly junked by Fernandez’s group. (GC)
