ILOILO – Several candidates in this province have effectively secured victory ahead of today’s elections, running unopposed in their respective races.
Among them is Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., who is assured of completing his third and final term after his only challenger, independent candidate Frances Chloe Noble of Miag-ao, withdrew her candidacy on December 26, 2024 — weeks after filing her certificate of candidacy on October 8.
Also poised to win unopposed is Dr. Kathryn Joyce “Doc Kathy” Gorriceta, who is seeking the congressional seat in the 2nd District of Iloilo. She is the wife of incumbent Cong. Michael Gorriceta and has no rivals in the race.
At the municipal level, 10 mayoralty candidates — all either incumbents or party-endorsed bets — are likewise breezing through the elections uncontested. These include:
* Alimodian – Mayor Ian Keneth Alfeche (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
* Badiangan – Mayor Suzette Mamon (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
* Leganes – Mayor Vicente Jaen II (Nacionalista Party)
* Lemery – Mayor Oscar Villegas Jr. (Lakas-CMD)
* Maasin – Mayor Francisco Amboy (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
* Oton – Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. (Nacionalista Party)
* Pavia – Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta (Nacionalista Party)
* Santa Barbara – Mayor Dennis Superficial (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
* Calinog – Mayor Francisco “Iko” Calvo (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
* New Lucena – Atty. Carl Mondejar, incumbent Sangguniang Bayan member running for mayor
Meanwhile, 13 vice mayoral aspirants from various towns are also running without opponents:
* Geefree “Kalay” Alonsabe (Alimodian)
* Lyka Debuque (Anilao)
* Cylas June Nobleza (Badiangan)
* Patrick Anthony Tobias (Cabatuan)
* Ronaldo “Onal” Golez (Dumangas)
* Christine “Tingting” Garin (Guimbal)
* Sherwin Paul Quidato (Igbaras)
* Arvin Losaria (Lambunao)
* Lyle Bartolome (Leganes)
* Vicente Albacete (Maasin)
* Edsel Gerochi (Pavia)
* Lugen Ortilano (Tigbauan)
* Leo Cezar Taypen (Tubungan)
Despite running unopposed, however, these candidates are not automatically proclaimed winners.
According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan, they must still secure at least one vote today to be officially declared as winners./PN
