5 running for Bohol governor

TAGBILARAN CITY – Five candidates have joined the gubernatorial derby in Bohol as the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) ended on Wednesday.

Two gubernatorial candidates managed to file their COCs just before the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) called it a day.

Among who managed to beat the deadline is a businessman. Hercules Lee Castillo, who is running under the banner of the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumangi (KKK).

Castillo said he is unfazed by the fact he is challenging well-established and well organized opponents.

Another deadline beater was comic actor Amay Bisaya, a native of Tubigon town, filed his COC for governor. Bisaya, who is Roberto Gloria Reyes in real life, said he has the capacity to mount a campaign for governor of Bohol province.

The late filers brought the number of candidates for governor to five. The others are Concepcion Tapayaw Flores is an independent candidate, a woman from Tubigon, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr., and House Deputy Speaker Arthur Yap.

Evasco filed his COC Tuesday and Yap filed his Wednesday together with the entire provincial slate of the local coalition Padayon Bol-anon (Onward Boholano).

Still on the filing of COCs, Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, who is running for congressman in the third district of Bohol, explained why he filed his certificate using a Certificate of Acceptance and Nomination (CONA) from the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

In a press conference on Thursday, Balite said he used to be staunch leader of PDP-Laban until he was dropped by the party.

He said his supporters managed to connect with the PMP leaders and facilitated the issuance of a CONA from the party that is aligned with former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.