3-cornered fight in Bohol 3rd cong'l district looms

TAGBILARAN CITY — The political landscape in Bohol's 3rd congressional district has started to take shape this early in the runup to the national and local elections in 2019, as the filing of certificates of candidacy is getting closer in October this year.

For now, three potential contenders are already showing interest and even making their presence felt in some social gatherings in the 3rd congressional district that comprises 19 towns.

Early this year, former Carmen mayor Conchita “Che” Toribio delos Reyes told The FREEMAN that she is throwing her hat, again, in the congressional election of the district, where her town belongs.

Her interest to gun for Congress was renewed considering that incumbent Rep. Arthur Yap is on his last term in 2019, after she was defeated by the latter in the 2016 elections.

Another contender is former Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan, according to an incumbent official of the town, whose identity is kept under wraps.

Calipusan has been accompanying Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco wherever and whenever the latter is present in any social gatherings and speaking engagements. It was not immediately known however if Calipusan, still a Liberal Party member, has been soliciting for an endorsement from Evasco.

The third rumored contender for the congressional seat is incumbent Vice Governor Dionisio Balite who, according to a columnist of a local daily, “is also interested to run,” citing his daughter Alma Bella Balite Diputado’s statement in the same published column.

Balite is now the designated head of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Bohol, who supported the then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the presidential campaign in 2016.

Balite defeated then vice governor Concepcion Lim in the vice-gubernatorial race in 2016.