South Luzon poll circus starts as bets file COCS

THE POLITICAL circus started early for many officials seeking reelection or aiming for election in southern Luzon.

Cavite

Veteran politician Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, representative of the lone district of Imus, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor with running mate, political neophyte Ronald Jay Lacson, son of Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Laguna

Reelectionist Gov. Jeorge “ER” Ejercito filed his COC.

Calamba City

Mayor Joaquin Chipeco Jr. filed his COC as representative while his son Justin Mark Chipeco filed his COC for Calamba City mayor. Benjamin Agarao Jr. filed his COC as representative in the fourth district.

Batangas

Two independent candidates—Marcos Mandanas Sr. and Arturo Atienza—filed their COCs for governor. Mandanas, 58, not related to Rep. Hermilando Mandanas of the second district, ran for governor in 2007 and 2010. Atienza, 67, has been running for local and national positions since 2001 but never won.

Still in Batangas, Rep. Tom Apacible filed his COC for reelection as a Liberal Party member. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, former congresswoman, filed her COC to challenge Apacible. Running under the Lakas-CMD party, she was accompanied by her father, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and 200 supporters.

Albay

Dante Arandia, an independent, filed his COC as representative for the third district while Ricky Ziga filed his COC as representative for the first district.

Camarines Norte

Rep. Renato Unico of the first district filed his COC for governor.

Masbate

Rowena Rejuso Tuason filed her COC for mayor of Masbate City to replace her husband Mayor Socrates Tuason.

Catanduanes

Reelectionists Rep. Cesar Sarmiento and Gov. Joseph Cua filed their COCs.

Palawan

Businessman Jose Chavez Alvarez filed his COC for governor under the local party Partido Pagbabago ng Palawan.

Still in Palawan, Eric Abueg filed his COC as representative of Palawan’s second district. The young Abueg last week bolted the camp of Gov. Abraham Kahlil Mitra to join the opposition slate of Alvarez.

Oriental Mindoro

Reelectionist Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. (LP) filed his COC.

Still in Oriental Mindoro, Nicco Valencia filed his COC as representative of the first district under the United Nationalist Alliance. Former Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan Panaligan filed his COC for mayor of Calapan City.

Occidental Mindoro