TWENTY-NINE candidates for mayor, 32 for vice mayor and 284 councilors will gun for a position in their respective towns in Benguet province.
Of the 13 towns, only two are expected to return in their post as Buguias incumbent Mayor Ruben Tinda-an of National Unity Party (NUP) and Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin of PDP Laban will be running unopposed.
Four candidates meanwhile will vie for Mankayan’s mayoralty post after Mayor Materno Luspian decided to seek an office at the House of Representatives.
Frenzel Ayong, Dario Banario Sr. and Tirso Tip-ac, all running as independent are vying for the top post together with Segundo Bekesan of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Paterno Dacanay, Ambino Padawi and Denver Tongacan, all independents will seek the vice mayoralty post with Jules Tanglib running under PDP- Laban.
In the municipality of Tuba, incumbent Mayor Ignacio Rivera, running under Lakas CMD will be challenged by Vice Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan (PDP Laban).
Maria Carantes of PDP Laban and Jerome Palaoag of Lakas CMD will seek for the vice mayoralty race.
In Tublay, Edward Cosalan (independent) will challenge incumbent Mayor Armando Lauro (PDP Laban) for the top post while Felipe Cosalan Jr. and Juan Esnara of PDP Laban eyes the town’s vice – mayor position.
In Buguias, Dione Baucas of NUP and Rafael Palasi of PDP Laban will vie for the vice mayor position while Kapangan’s Mayo Eslay of PDP Laban is running for the vice mayor unopposed.
In Atok, Marson Lay-at (PDP-Laban), Raymundo Sarac (NUP) and Arthur Vargas (PFP) seeks the town’s mayorship while Paquito Calantas (PFP), Angelito Galao Sr. (PDP Laban) and Andrew Tumayan (PDP Laban) will vie for vice mayor.
A three cornered fight looms in Bakun as Elmer Cambulo and Bill Raymundo, both running independents and Fausto Labinio under PDP Laban will eyes the town’s top official while in the vice mayoralty race, Crescencio Angluben, Edward Buscol and Lorenzo Santiban (PDP Laban) are eyeing the position.
For Bokod, Reynaldo Tello of PDP Laban and Thomas Wales Jr. of Lakas CMD are running as mayor of the municipality while vice mayor candidates include Pedro Anton of Lakas CMD and independent candidate Marian Calawen.
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan is seeking for re-election against former Mayor Oscar Camantiles with Arnel Bahingawan and Adriano Carantes Jr. seeking the vice-mayoral seat of the mining town.
Incumbent Kabayan Mayor Gideon Todiano of Lakas CMD is also seeking for another re-election against former Mayor Faustino Aquisan under PDP Laban and Alfonso Aroco.
Telio Aguinse of Lakas CMD, Basilio Daoal (PDP Laban), Orlan Kelcho and Maxencia Pili will run as vice mayor.
In Kibungan, Benito Siadto of PDP Laban challenges incumbent Mayor Cesar Molitas under Lakas CMD for the top post as Lovio Nabe of (Lakas CMD) and Edwin Nitron (PDP Laban) vies for vice mayor.
For Sablan, incumbent Mayor Arthur Baldo is running as vice mayor against Herminigildo Ome.
The top post is set between Leonardo Lawana of Lakas CMD and Manuel Munar of PDP Laban.