Two candidates for provincial board members together with a mayoralty, vice mayoralty and six bets for councilors withdrew their candidacies from the 2016 elections with their respective replacements beating last Thursday’s deadline for substitutions.
The Provincial Comelec Office showed that among those who backed out were two bets for provincial board members under PDP-Laban, the political party of controversial presidential bet and survey leader, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
In the first district, Dante Salva was replaced by businessman Donald Sevilla, while in the third district, Porferio Datoy was replaced by Nathaniel Binlod.
No candidate backed out from among the aspirants for the positions of governor, vice governor and congressman.
Incumbent Alburquerque Mayor Efren Tungol withdrew and was replaced by his youngest son, Alfren Charles, 28. He told The Chronicle that his withdrawal came as he wants to concentrate on their family business while admitting likewise that younger people could better run the town’s affairs.
In Corella, LP vice mayoralty bet Cecilia Dacquio withdrew. She was replaced by Rex Romani Tocmo.
In Clarin, two LP candidates for town councilors under re-electionist mayoralty candidate Allen Ray Piezas backed out from the race. They are Carlo Ombajin and Francis Manalo, who are replaced by Nelson Bonajos and Silvestre Sanchez.
In Baclayon, Laurence Angelo Sanchez, a town councilor bet of the Nationalista Party was replaced by Nenito Sanchez.
In Dauis, a candidate for councilor, Melchor Honculada backed out and was replaced by businessman Vieto Racho of the Liberal Party. Joaquiin Adayo, an independent candidate for councilor of Dauis also backed out.
In Bilar, Marcel Carinal Fuertes replaces Marinel Fuertes Real for councilor under LP.
DAN LIM: NO SHOW
The much awaited plan of former City Mayor Dan Lim to run for mayor simply disappointed his supporters after he did not show during the final day of substitution at the city Comelec offices last Thursday.
Ever since the filing of COCs, Lim has been moving in the city’s 15 barangays to consolidate his forces in order to mount a campaign against his nephew, Mayor Baba Yap who is enjoying a good performance rating in his first term of office.
It has always been speculated that Lim will substitute Barangay Captain Arelen Karaan whom the mayor asked to file her COC for city mayor. Karaan is one of the original fanatic supporters of Lim, like the former City Administrator Mark Monton who is running for mayor in Balilihan against First Lady, incumbent Mayor Pureza Chatto.
However, on the last day for substitution, Karaan was interview over dyRD’s “Inyong Alagad” program to declare that she will not be replaced by Lim in her bid for city mayor.
“I am running for city mayor and I will not allow any replacement,” Karaan said.
ONE-ON-ONE
Even as there are other bets for governor, political observers consider re-electionist Gov. Edgar Chatto and Loay Mayor May Imboy as the serious contenders for governor in the coming election.
This considering that Imboy has two congressional bets supporting her bid, namely, Carmen Mayor Cheche Toribio delos Reyes for the 3rd district and re-electionist Congressman Aris Aumentado in the second district. Chatto also has his political machinery ready for the election. Rep. Rene Relampagos and Rep. Arthur Yap will be supporting Chatto’s bid. Second district congressional bet, Prov’l Board Member Gerry Garcia has to officially announce yet his support for Chatto.
Reyes is open for her support to Imboy while Aumentado is yet to issue his official pronouncement on this regard.
For vice governor, two political arch rivals, re-electionist Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and Board Member Dionisio Balite will slug it out for the 2016 polls.
In the second district congressional race, it’s a one-on-one race between re-electionist Rep. Aumentado and Prov’l Board Member Garcia.
The battle royal is expected in the congressional battle in the third district between re-electionist Rep. Arthur Yap and ex-mayor of Carmen Cheche delos Reyes.
Reports from the field confirmed that it will be a “financially bloody” election in the 3rd congressional race as the lady Carmen mayor continues to buy out the political leaders of Yap. The latest to jump ship from the Yap camp to join the delos Reyes leaders is Bilar Mayor “Tata” Palacio. This was confirmed by Palacio himself to his political leaders in Bilar.