MORE re-electionists rushed to the local poll offices yesterday, the third day of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs).
The arrangement between candidates also didn’t push through.
In E.B. Magalona, Board Member David Lacson will challenge his former ally, re-electionist Mayor Marvin Malacon, in the mayoral post.
This came following the arrangement between them and Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez.
It was earlier announced by Benitez that Lacson has already agreed to run as vice mayor in tandem with Malacon.
But yesterday, Malacon and his slate under Asenso Tumandok filed their respective COCs with Councilor Eric Tumulac as his vice mayor.
Malacon's bets for the town council members are composed of incumbent officials namely Erlyn Gamboa, Joey Pugales, Jovie Madayag, Angelita Parcon, Isidro Gomed, Gilda Parcon and Joemarie Escala.
He said they still lack one candidate for the town council but they will fill it before the last day of COC filing.
When asked for comment on their earlier arrangement, Malacon said it was broken because Lacson would like to field his own set of Sangguniang Bayan members.
During the merger talks in the presence of Benitez and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, Malacon pointed out the 23 punong barangays of E.B. Magalona sleazily stated they want Matulac to be his running mate.
This is because the village officials believed that in the recently held Barangay Elections, Lacson was behind the issues against some of them and fielded some candidates against them. "I have no proof but I strongly believe that Lacson was behind the charges against me, some department heads and SB members," Malacon said.
Malacon also said he heard that Lacson and his team will file their COCs on October 17.
Former SB member Hope Marey Depasucat is reportedly Lacson's running mate.
"What I can say is the negotiation should have been transparent, that what was agreed [upon], it should have been followed. It's not good on my part that Lacson will run for vice mayor with me but he also has a set of councilors of his own,” Malacon said.
When asked for his message to Lacson, Malacon said: "Whatever happens, let's think about the friendship, let's think about the relationship that we have for almost 20 years and we have been allies before but because of different views on managing the town, we can't be together. After the election, we will treasure the friendship. Whoever will run against me, let's have a friendly fight. May the best man win and hoping for a peaceful election.”
Malacon was accompanied by Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Board Member Frederick Ko and Jovie Pepillo and Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca during the filing of the COC yesterday.
When asked for his comment, Lacson said he will inform Sunstar about his decision. "Mapabalo gid ko," he said.
Meanwhile, former Board Member Reynaldo Novero filed his CIC yesterday for Board Member of the Sixth District. He served the district from 1995 to 1998.
In Kabankalan City, Sixth District Board Member Pedro Zayco filed his COC yesterday for mayor of Kabankalan City along with his running mate, reelectionist Vice Mayor Raul Rivera and their bets for councilors.
Over in Bacolod City, reelectionist Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of Grupo Progreso (GP) filed his COC yesterday at the Comelec office along with three other members of GP who are running for councilors.
Those who filed their COCs for councilor were incumbent Councilors Bartolome Orola Sr. and Ana Marie Palermo, and former councilor Archie Baribar, all members of GP and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
On Thursday, Familiaran, Orola, Palermo, and Baribar were not able to file their COC with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Congressman Greg Gasataya and other GP members because there was a problem with their Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (Cona).
Familiaran said the GP slate is so formidable and winnable, adding that in the last elections, only four candidates of GP didn’t make it.
“We are hoping and will campaign hard to get the 15-0 victory target in 2019,” he said.
Orola and Palermo said they are still willing to serve the people of Bacolod and to continue their advocacies and programs.
Meanwhile, election registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said as of October 11 to 15, two candidates filed for congressman including Gasataya and Dr. Jan Kevin Moises; one for mayor, Leonardia; one for vice mayor, Familiaran; and 14 for councilors.
She said on Friday, the second day of filing, they did not receive applications from any aspiring candidates and it’s for the first time that it happened in Comelec.
Majarucon-Sia recalled that in the previous elections, several candidates were fined for failure to submit their statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) after the elections.
She said those who failed to pay the penalty of not less than P5,000 were penalized by Comelec of perpetual disqualifications.
“Maybe because of these, we do not have a ‘nuisance candidates’ or those persons who just want to file a COC, but don’t have any intent to run or to campaign,” she added.
Majarucon-Sia reminded the candidates to submit the COC with passport size photo and be consistent in answering the No.2 and No.4 questions in relation to the name that will appear in the official ballot.
The filing of COC will end on October 17 and there will be no extension.
In Victorias City, reelectionists Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca and Vice Mayor Jerry Jover, along with their slate, filed their COC before the local poll office in the presence of merged Love Negros and United Negros Alliance standard bearers gubernatorial aspirant Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and vice gubernatorial bet former Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer.
Palanca and Jover's candidates for councilors include Francis Frederick "Derek" Palanca, Abelardo Bantug III, Sulpicio Montinola Jr., Teresita Sta. Ana Bartolome, Dexter Senido, Blandino Hullana Galinato, Virginia Miane Adorio, Godiven De Dios and Audie Malaga.
The candidates and their supporters attended a mass and a flag raising rites held at the city gym prior to the filing of their COC.
After the short gathering at the gym, they proceeded to the Comelec office.
Palanca thanked the people of Victorias for their trust and confidence shown to his administration and to his fellow elected officials.
They hope to get the people's mandate again for the continued progress of Victorias City.
Ferrer said the team of Palanca will be the sure winners in the 2019 elections.
"We will just be here for the realization of the team's vision for the progress of Victorias," he said.
In La Castellana, re-electionists Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and Vice Mayor Manuel Vera, along with their eight candidates for councilor, filed their COCs yesterday afternoon.
Clad in red, they started their activity with prayers then marched to the Comelec office which is just behind the Municipal Hall.
Mangilimutan called their team as "Team Arangkada" where they are all ready to take higher gear in terms of serving the people.
Mangilimutan said they run under the umbrella of United Negros Alliance-National Unity Party (NUP).
Their candidates for councilor include reelectionists Councilors Ryan Canoy, Alberto Nicor III, Remuel Lajo and Ian E. Villaluz.
Other candidates include Cristina Vera, Anejo Nicor, Isidro Regie Arnaiz and Jert Tamon.
"We want to sustain the peace and order that our people enjoyed in our community and also to continue to make it as a drug-free municipality. We will continue our programs on tourism, education, health and infrastructure projects. I am so thankful that many of our Sangguniang Bayan members are now with my team," she said.
She said they have served the people since 2016 and will continue to do more if given the chance to get a mandate.