Close to 1,400 candidates running in Cebu in May

STAKES are much higher for mayoralty aspirants in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Toledo compared to other local government units (LGUs) in the province.

The highly urbanized city of Lapu-Lapu and the western city of Toledo each have five mayoral bets in the May 13 elections, according to a tentative list of candidates from the official website of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued in November 2018.

Mayoralty bets in four towns, on the other hand, will have it easy since they are running unopposed.

In Cebu, close to 1,400 individuals filed their certificates of candidacy before the Comelec last October.

Of the number, 1,060 are running for city or municipal councilor, some 136 are mayoral aspirants while 117 are vice mayoral contenders.

There are also 29 contenders for a seat at the House of Representatives, 26 bets for Provincial Board from the seven districts of Cebu Province, while there are two and three contenders for the vice gubernatorial and gubernatorial posts, respectively. (The third gubernatorial candidate, though, recently died.)

A report on the tentative list of local candidates in Cebu generated on Nov. 17, 2018, revealed that among the 53 LGUs in Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City has the most number of contenders.

Although the city only needs to elect 12 councilors in the May 13 polls, 43 people are vying for a seat in the City Council.

Aside from this, Lapu-Lapu also has five contenders each for the mayoral and vice mayoral races and four aspirants for district representative.

Those running for mayor are independent candidates Paulo Cabahug and Virgilio Cano, Pajo Barangay Captain Junard “Ahong” Chan (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan), Rolando Patalinjug (United Nationalist Alliance) and former mayor Arturo Radaza (Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats).

Incumbent Mayor Paz Radaza is running for the lone congressional seat of the city.

Next to Lapu-Lapu with the most number of contenders is Cebu City with 38 councilors for both districts, four mayoral bets, five aspirants for vice mayor and six aspiring representatives, four of which are running for the north district.

Last month, the Comelec classified independent mayoralty contender Paulino Osmeña Jr. as a nuisance candidate.

According to Acting Provincial Elections Supervisor Jerome Brillantes, a candidate is considered legitimate until the Comelec declares him or her a nuisance.

“Actually, there is no criteria about it (declaring nuisance candidate) besides being mentally unstable or insane. One is also nidagan lang siya just to make a mockery or joke out of the elections,” he said.

This leaves Cebu City with a four-pronged mayoralty race between incumbent Mayor Tomas Osmeña (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) and incumbent Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella (PDP-Laban) and independent candidates John Edwin Dayondon and Junry Concepcion.

Third on the list is Toledo City with 33 aspirants for councilor, five mayoral aspirants and four contenders for vice mayor.

Battling it out for the mayoralty are independent candidates Merly Abad, Marjorie Perales and Neil Riveral and Walter Lao (National People’s Coalition) and Arlene Zambo of PDP-Laban.

Incumbent Mayor John Henry Osmeña is pursuing a congressional bid in the third district.

But in other towns, political aspirants, most of whom are incumbent officials, are running unopposed.

In Consolacion, Mayor Teresa Alegado and her son, Dr. Joannes Alegado, are running without opponents.

Dr. Alegado, who is currently a municipal councilor, will be running for mayor while his mother will be running for vice mayor.

Also running unopposed are incumbent Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain and her running mate Vice Mayor Fructuoso Caballero, as well as San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez and his running mate Vice Mayor Alfonso Pestolante.

Incumbent Medellin Mayor Benjun Mondigo and Vice Mayors Leonardo Arpon (Tabogon) and Ervin Villanueva (Boljoon) are also running unopposed.

There are also towns and cities that only have two to four contenders in the mayoral and vice mayoral races, but have more than 20 aspirants for councilor.

These include the Municipality of Bantayan and the City of Naga with 28 and 27 contenders for councilor, respectively.

The towns of Argao, Barili and Ronda each have 25 aspirants for councilor, while Santander and Talisay City both have 24 bets running for councilor.