WITH the period for filing the certificate of candidacy (COC) for next year’s elections just days away, the political scene in Benguet is expected to heat up.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will accept COCs from October 12 to 16, and the weekend ahead will see scores of prospective candidates announcing their intention to run.
Among the early birds is former Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles who has declared his bid for governor.
In an interview, Camantiles presented himself as an “alternative” candidate.
"Benguet is very traditional and we see the same people playing in the arena, I want to give people an alternative," he said.
Camantiles said he will run on a platform of tourism and agricultural development.
He said he has decided to run as an independent candidate because "I want to go straight to the people.”