IN EASTERN VISAYAS Over 3,000 bets seeking local posts in 2010 polls
TACLOBAN CITY— Over 3,000 candidates in Eastern Visayas have filed their certificates of candidacy for various local positions up for grabs in next year’s elections.
The big number of candidates seeking different elective posts were expected considering that the 2010 elections happen to be also a presidential election, lawyer Jose Nick Mendros, acting regional director of the Commission on Elections-8, said.
Based on the records of the regional Comelec office, there were 3,702 candidates who have filed their CoCs for positions of governors, vice governors, congressmen, provincial board members, city and town mayors, vice mayors and councilors.
At least 28 candidates are running for governors, 16 for vice governors, 122 for board members, 48 for congressmen, 345 for mayors, 325 for vice mayors and 2,818 for council seats.
These candidates would be contesting six positions for governors; six positions for vice governors; 12 for congressional posts; 56 for provincial board members; 143 for mayors; 143 for vice mayors and more than 1,400 seats for city and municipal councils.
In Northern Samar, four are running for governor; two for vice governor, five for congressmen (for two congressional districts); 20 for provincial seats; 55 for mayors, 39 for vice mayors and 450 for councilors.
In Eastern Samar, nine are running for governor; three for vice governor; eight for congressmen (lone district); 13 for board members; 60 for mayors, 62 for vice mayors and 504 for town councilors.
Six candidates have filed for governor of Samar; three for vice governor, 12 for its two congressional districts; 18 for provincial board; 56 for mayors, 61 for vice mayors and 496 for councilors.
In Biliran, five are in the running for governor, five for vice governor; three for its lone congressional district; 21 for provincial board members; 24 for mayor; 22 for vice mayor and 172 for council seats.
In Southern Leyte, three are running for governor; two for vice governor; three for its lone congressional district; 16 for board members; 41 for mayor; 43 for vice mayor and 345 for councilors.
And in Leyte, the region’s biggest province in terms of elective office representations, incumbent Governor Jericho Petilla and his vice governor, Mimiette Bagulaya are assured on their reelection bids as they are running unopposed.
Meantime, there are 17 candidates who filed their CoCs for the province’s five congressional districts with only two are incumbents, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (1st) and Andy Salvacion (3rd) seeking for reelections.
About 24 have filed for the provincial board; 109 for mayor; 98 for vice mayor and 851 for city and town councilors.
Mendros said that his office has already submitted the list of official candidates in the region last December 3.
- Filing of certificates of candidacy officially begins today – Comelec
- Sarmiento runs for Congress; Uy for Calbayog City mayor
- 2 solons file COC for mayor; 2 mayors file COC as Leyte board members
- Gov. Evardone files COC for congressman of Eastern Samar under Lakas-Kampi-CMD
- LP to field candidates in Tacloban, some Leyte towns
