CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- It will be a square-off between incumbent Bacolor Mayor Jose Maria Hizon and Vice Governor Dennis Pineda in the gubernatorial race in 2019.

Hizon filed Tuesday, October 16, his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for Pampanga governor at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office here, flanked by supporters and family members.

Hizon also hosted a press conference at his home here with his mother, Pampanga's best matriarch Lolita Hizon, and father Angelo Hizon. Also present were Bacolor mayoralty aspirant Frederico Hizon Sr. and City of San Fernando vice-mayoralty aspirant Angie Hizon, among others.

Hizon said he was hesitant for a few months before deciding to run for governor.

He said election is a decision-making process in which people should have the freedom to choose, adding that his decision to run gives the Kapampangans a choice.

Hizon said despite the alliance of congressional candidates with the Kambilan party of the Pinedas, he had decided to push through for the sake of giving Kapampangans an option.

He denied that there were talks with him and Fourth District Representative Juan Pablo Bondoc to team up in the 2019 polls.

"There were no talks, those were only rumors," Hizon said.

He said he is leaning on the support of Kapampangans instead of the support of politicians who are running in the 2019 elections.

"I don't have a well-oiled machinery but I would rather give myself a shot," Hizon said.

He said he is not afraid of threats.

Hizon is running as independent candidate.