BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) released a list of those who filed their certificates of candidacy in Negros Occidental last week.
The 5th District had the most number of aspirants for Provincial Board member:
* Rita Gastuslao (reelectionist of United Negros Alliance or UNegA)
* Hernan Julian Gatuslao (Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC)
* Rolito “Board Boyet” Espinosa (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD),
* Pete Bolaño (Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan)
* Anton Occeño (Independent)
* Patrick “PM” Montilla (Independent)
The candidates running unopposed for Provincial Board membes are Rommel Debulgado and Aracelio Somosa (1st District); Pal Guanzon and Jongben Mirhan (2nd District); and Macho Alonso and Jeffrey Tubola (6th District).
The aspirants in 4th District are Jose Benito Alonso (incumbent) and Cleo Gaudite, while in the 3rd District, independent candidate Tukoy Occida challenges incumbents Andrew Montelibano and Manuel Frederick Ko.
For congressman, Gerardo Valmayor (1st District), Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon (2nd District), Juliet Marie Ferrer (4th District), and Mercedes Alvarez (6th District) are running unopposed.
Incumbent 3rd District’s Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, meanwhile, is being challenged by Bernard Ferraris.
On the other hand, 5th District’s Rep. Marilou Arroyo has two opponents: Macoy Javelosa and former Provincial Board member Dino Yulo.
For the gubernatorial post, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will run against Atty. John Orola, former administrator of this city, and Ma. Socorro Sibulan.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer is being challenged by Jonry Gargarita./PN
