THE Fifth District of Negros Occidental has the most number of aspirants for board members with eight running for the posts, records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Provincial Office showed.
It will be an eight-corner fight for Anton Occeño (independent), Pete Bolaño (Pederalismo Ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan), Board Boyet Espinosa (Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats), Rita Gastuslao (reelectionist of United Negros Alliance), Hernan Julian Gatuslao (Nationalist People's Coalition) and Patrick "PM" Montilla (independent).
Six candidates for Provincial Board Members are unopposed including Rommel Debulgado and Aracelio Somosa (First District), Pal Guanzon and Jongben Mirhan (Second District), Macho Alonso and Jeffrey Tubola (Sixth District).
In the Fourth District, incumbent Board Member Jose Benito Alonso and Bago City Cleo Gaudite have no opponents.
Three candidates, on the other hand, are vying for the posts of board members at the Third District with Tukoy Occida challenging incumbent Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Manuel Frederick Ko.
Representative Gerardo Valmayor, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo "Thirdy" Marañon III, Representative Juliet Marie Ferrer and former representative Mercedes Alvarez are also unopposed as representatives of the province's First, Second, Fourth and Sixth Districts, respectively.
Meanwhile, Third District Representative Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez is being challenged by Toto Bernard Ferraris while Fifth District Representative Marilou Arroyo is up against Macoy Javelosa and former board member and former vice governor Dino Yulo, who is a board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
For the top posts, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is being challenged by former Bacolod congressman lawyer Juan Orola and self-proclaimed psychic and visionary Ma. Socorro Sibulan, while Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer will be running against Jonry Gargarita.
Provincial Comelec Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said the name to appear on the official ballot is not yet final.
Ananoria said the legal department of the Comelec will evaluate all the COCs and determine the final name to appear on the official ballot.