• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental experienced a surge in the certificate of candidacy (COC) filings on Monday, a day before the deadline ends on October 8, while reporting no incidents over the past seven days.
On Day 7, 15 mayoral aspirants filed their candidacies, including re-electionist Mayor Renato Gustilo of San Carlos City, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, and Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña, Christine Miñada – Manapla, Mark Andrew Golez – Silay City, Napoleon Delfinado Jr. – San Enrique, Ricardo Presbitero – Valladolid, Marina Javellana Yao and Joshwa Margallo – Bago City, Emmanuel Aranda – Binalbagan, Ryan Canoy and Clea Velasco – La Castellana, Adrian Villaflor – Moises Padilla, John Cordero – Kabankalan City, and Bebsie Villegas – Sipalay City.
Rosemarie Dreyfus also filed her COC for vice governor, while board member aspirants who filed their candidacies on Monday were Atty. Hope Marey “Bambi” Depasucat, Cherrie Hope Belarga, Michael Legaspi, and reelectionist Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Rita Gatuslao.
Since Oct. 1, the total number of candidates for the mayoral post is at 43.
Also on Day 7, a total of 157 candidates for congressman, vice governor, vice mayor, and councilor have trooped to different Comelec offices to file their candidacies.
On the provincial level, Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria yesterday said that almost all positions already have aspirants. But he is hoping that there won’t be too many last minute filers.
Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec regional director for Negros Island Region, said they are also hoping that the peaceful situation will continue until the final day of filing on Oct. 8.
Board Member Anthony Occeño, provincial chairman of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, confirmed on Monday that he will be running as congressman for the 5th district of Negros Occidental, challenging incumbent Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo, adding that he was endorsed by the PFP, being its provincial chairman.
Occeño and Yulo are expected to file their candidacies today.*
