THE political aspirants from Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), the administration group in Cebu City, filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Election (Comelec) yesterday, except for Councilor Dave Tumulak.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who will seek re-election, led the group in the filing yesterday.
Before they proceeded to Comelec office, the entire slate of BOPK attended a mass at the San Pedro Calungsod chapel in the South Road Properties.
Osmeña said he is confident with their slate because Cebuanos are not into voting celebrities.
“Cebuanos don’t respect superstars,” he said.
Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos will be the running mate of Osmeña and is expected to face former mayor Michael Rama in the vice mayoral race.
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north), who is also seeking re-election, issued no reaction against his supposed competitors, except saying, “Anybody can run.”
Del Mar is expected to face businessman and actor Richard Yap as the political aspirant of Barug PDP-Laban in the congressional seat in the north district.
Those who will run as city councilors in the north district under BOPK are Councilors Jerry Guardo, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla and Joy Augustus Young. They are all seeking for another term. Also running as councilors are aspirant Dr. Marlo Maamo, and former councilors Alvin Dizon, Nestor Archival Sr., and Lea Japson.
In the south district, Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa will seek re-election while Councilors Tumulak and Eugenio Gabuya Jr., will also run again for another term.
New aspirants for a seat in the City Council include former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Rengelle Pelayo, Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan, former board member and city councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba and City Hall’s Human Resource Department Office head Marie Velle “Amay” Abella and Department of Public Services head Roberto Cabarrubias.
In an interview, Tumulak said that although he went to Comelec with his colleagues in BOPK yesterday, he was not able to file his COC due to a problem in his certificate of nomination and acceptance (Cona).
“I have yet to officially receive my Cona. I expected it to arrive today (yesterday) in time for our filing but it did not arrive. It is one of the requirements for filing. Once I have it, I will file,” he said. His Cona arrived yesterday, so he is expected to file his COC today.
Although the BOPK will run under Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Tumulak said his national party will be Nacionalista Party of former senator Manny Villar.
The Barug PDP-Laban, through Councilor Erik Espina, also announced that they will be filing their COC as a group tomorrow, the last day of the filing. (RVC)