2 SoCot bets withdraw from Congress race
KORONADAL CITY -One cited “party decision”; the other said he could not challenge a good leader.
Two aspirants for South Cotabato province’s first legislative district seat in the October 26 special elections withdrew from the race on Friday.
Incumbent Polomolok town councilor Leo Cordova and former Tampakan councilor Richard Ross Barroso filed their respective statements of withdrawal before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office here at past 2 p.m.
The move came after the two met with South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and other leaders in the province.
Also present in the meeting was former pro
vincial board member and Polomolok mayor Isidro Lumayag, who was endorsed by the governor on Wednesday as the official candidate of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Tamayo said Cordova and Barroso decided to withdraw from the race to give way to the candidacy of Lumayag, who is now running unopposed.
“For the first time, political leaders in the first district have united,” he told reporters.
The governor accompanied the two when they filed their statements of withdrawal, which were notarized by lawyer Marnito Cosep, the provincial legal officer.
“After much thought, I am hereby withdrawing my candidacy for the position of 1st District Representative of South Cotabato,” their identical statements read.
Cordova, who is also a member of PFP, said he withdrew from the race upon the request of his party mates.
“I have decided to file my withdrawal after our meeting went well, I have seen from what they presented that my backing out can strengthen the unity of our party,” he said.
Tamayo is the national president of PFP.
Barroso, an independent, said his confidence in the leadership of Lumayag was the main reason he backed out from the race.
“I have seen the opportunity and the dedication of our incoming congressman and his previous record as a politician and also to the commitment of fair leadership and public service of Governor Tamayo,” he told reporters.
Barroso noted that now is the time for local leaders to unite for the progress of the first legislative district of South Cotabato.
Tamayo emphasized that no money was involved in the withdrawal of the respective certificates of candidacy of Cordova and Barroso.
“In the first district, we use our principles and then we talk. That is why there is unification,” said the governor, who was mayor of Tupi in the first district before winning the gubernatorial race in the May elections.
The Comelec suspended the elections last May for the first district due to its reorganization, as provided for in Republic Act 11243, An Act Reapportioning the First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato.
The law carved out the city from the first district of South Cotabato and established it as the province’s third district. The municipalities of Tampakan, Polomolok, and Tupi now comprise the first district. (PNA)