CANDIDATES of Davao City’s ruling group headed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio are still unopposed as no opposition bet of consequence has so far filed a certificate of candidacy as of yesterday, two days before the deadline for filing on October 17.
Inday, others unopposed
As of this writing last night, those unopposed are Mayor Sara, who is running for reelection for her second term, older brother Paolo Z. Duterte who filed early for congressman in the First District; Vincent J. Garcia in the Second; and Isidro T. Ungab in the Third.
This is the first time ever that Paolo Duterte is running for the House of Representatives, while Garcia and Sid Ungab are comebacking after having served nine years of three terms each in their respective districts in the past.
Paolo is running for the position held by Rep. Karlo Aleksei B. Nograles who is graduating from his third term of nine years. Karlo has recently announced his and his family’s decision not to seek the position of senator as earlier reported.
Karlo’s younger brother, Rep. Jericho “Koko” Nograles, has filed a COC for his old PBA (Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta) partylist.
Vince is seeking the post to be vacated by his three-termer sister, Rep. Mylene G. Albano, while Sid is seeking the position held now by younger brother Rep. Alberto “Abet” Ungab, who is running for councilor in the Third District.
Louie Bonguyan for VM?
As of yesterday, nothing was definite about who was going to run for vice mayor to Inday Sara, although it was loudly bruited about that it was going to be comebacking former Vice Mayor Luis C. Bonguyan, now serving as director of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). Unconfirmed reports indicated that Mayor Sara prefers Bonguyan’s winnability being the only aspirant having been exposure to the three districts since he has held the position for several terms before.
Councilors’ lineups
As of yesterday, a total of 35 candidates affiliated by the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL), a local political party by the group of then Mayor now President Rodrigo R. Duterte, and Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP), founded by Mayor Inday, filed their CoCs for the 24 positions of councilor (eight slots per district).
Nine filed in the First District (in excess of one candidate), 16 in the Second (in excess of 8), and 10 in the Third (in excess of two).
14 re-electionists
Of the 35 candidates so far, 14 are re-electionists and comebacking, and 21 either relatives of former councilors, former barangay captains or completely newcomers.
The nine running for council seats in the first district are Councilors Ma. Belen “Mabel” Sunga-Acosta, Melchor Quitain Jr., Edgar Ibuyan Jr., Bonifacio Militar, Pilar C. Braga and Nilo Abellera Sr. (come-backing), Pamela Librado (younger sister of Councilors Angela and Leah), Richard Duterte, and Lyndon Diems Banzon (son of the late 2nd district Councilor Valentino “Tenny” Banzon.
The 16 bets for the Second District are re-electionists Danilo C. Dayanghirang and Dante Apostol, Louie John Bonguyan (comebacking), Halila Sudagar (former Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative); Ralph Abella (Barangay Hizon barangay captain-husband of graduating councilor Marissa S. Abella), Florence Alejandre (wife of Councilor Al Ryan), Jonard Dayap (brother of Councilor April Marie Dayap), Alain Dureza (son of Councilor Jimmy Dureza), Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr. (son of Councilor Dado Mahipus), Augusto Javier Garcia Campos III (nephew of Rep. Mylene G. Albano and Vince Garcia), Richlyn Justol-Baguilod, Lyneth dela Calzada, Roger Galido, Rene Estorpe, Constancio Suarez Tiongco and Tisha Goldie Romarate Delvo.
The 10 candidates for councilor in the Third District are re-electionists Jesus P. Zozobrado III, Dr. Mary Joselle Villafuerte, Conde Baluran, and Antoinette Principe, Carmelo Clarion, Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique Advincula (daughter of Councilor Victorio Advincula Jr), Congressman Alberto Ungab, Ramon Bargamento II, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Wilberto “Nonoy” Al-ag, comebacking councilors who had served for three terms before.
The list of candidates for all positions in Davao City is expected to be added with new names as the deadline approaches. (RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT and ARMANDO FENEQUITO JR.)
