By Anthony S. Allada
THE list of Davao City council aspirants in the three districts is fewer as compared to those who ran in the May 10, 2010 national and local elections. At the time, 41 council hopefuls ran in the first district, 29 in the second district and 30 in the third district.
This time, only 17 are running in the first district, 16 in the second district and 17 in the third district.
Most of the candidates though belong to just one party, Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, a group founded by Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, who has just filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor, in effect aspiring to succeed Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, his eldest daughter who opted not to run for reelection. The combacking Duterte is virtually unopposed in his bid to serve again as mayor, a position he had held for six terms in the past.
What’s interesting in next year’s local election are the contests for councilor in the three districts, given that there are only few “graduating” city councilors or those who are barred from running for the same position after holding it for three consecutive three terms of three years each term.
There are more strong comebacking candidates for the council, than there are positions to be vacated by reason of their disqualification.
For instance, in the first district, only Councilor Pilar Braga is barred from seeking reelection after having exhausted three terms, although in effect there are three “vacancies”( of strong candidates) considering that Councilor Emmanuel Galicia Sr. decided not to seek reelection but instead paved the way for his son, Emmanuel Jr. to aspire for the position. The third “vacancy” occurred early when Wendel Avisado, who topped the council derby in the first district, resigned from the council to accept a job offered by Vice President Jejomar Binay to be secretary general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
As it is, the incumbents seeking re-election are five –Melchor Quitain, Leah Librado, Nilo “Small” Abellera Jr., Edgar Ibuyan, Joanne Bonguyan. Six, if Jackson Reyes, who only replaced Avisado is included.
Three “heavyweights” –Bonifacio Militar, Leo Avila III and Maria Belen Acosta, who keep their records with no defeats in city council contest, are also are seeking a comeback, making the race to be very exciting on who among them would make it to the eight slots.
During their stints in the city council, they were on top of the eight council seats, either placing first, second and third. The question is: who among the incumbents will they replace?
Librado, Abellera, Quitain and Bonguyan are still first-termers and placed 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th, respectively, in the last polls. Of these four, only Bonguyan is not a Hugpong member. Interestingly, Joanne Bonguyan was quoted as saying that between Rep. Karlo Nograles and former vice mayor Luis Bonguyan, her uncle, in the battle for the position of congressman of the first district, he would opt to support Nograles. An interesting side question is: will abandoning her uncle and siding with his opponent be good for her reelection bid?
In the second district, only two city council members – Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling and Dante Apostol – are “graduating.” Still seeking their reelection are Louie John Bonguyan, Tomas Monteverde IV, Jimmy Dureza, Al Ryan Alejandre, April Marie Dayap and Marissa Salvador-Abella. Alejandre, Dayap and Abella are first timers.
Ranged against them are two comebacking council bets are formidable veteran politicians, Danilo Dayanghirang and Diosdado Mahipus Jr., who were also undefeated in past council races. Add to the two former councilor Dr. Gerald Bangoy is also back after he only placed 9th in last elections.
Cabling would like his sister, Malyn, to replace him, while Apostol picked his brother, Panacan barangay captain Arnolfo Apostol, to continue his initiated-projects. A newbie, Richel Patiganzo, wife of miner Nelson “Tata” Sala, will also reportedly campaign hard for her victory with the full backing of the Dutertes. There is a strong possibility that they can edge out a number of the reelectionists.
