TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) -– The impact of the 2013 destructive typhoon is taking a toll on the decisions of politicians, whether to join or not in 2016 elections.
When the city election office here finalized the list of those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC), there are only 24 candidates in this typhoon-ravaged city, less than half than the 2013 polls filing.
“I think they don’t have the budget to launch a campaign. You will notice that many of our potential candidates are still recovering from the impacts of super typhoon Yolanda,” said Councilor Jerry Uy, the city chairman of the Liberal Party (LP).
The official said that they talk to some young potential candidates, but they all decline to file their COCs.
Records show that of the 12 elective positions in the city, three will run for mayor, three for vice mayor, and 18 for city councilors.
Running for mayor are Councilors Cristina Romualdez of Nacionalista Party (NP) and Neil Glova of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Another contender is Independent candidate Golda Helda Cabodoy
Vying the vice mayoralty post are incumbent Jerry Yaokasin (Independent), Jeric Dane Granados (Nationalista Party), and Ramon Tolibas, Jr. (Independent).
Seeking for a seat in the city council from the LP are Jerry Uy (LP), Dalisay Erpe (LP), Jose Mario Bagulaya (LP), Raissa Villasin (LP) and Hilario Menzon (LP).
Running under NP are Edward Frederick Chua, Edwin Chua, Rachell Erica Pineda, Victor Emmanuel Domingo and Aurora Grafil. Two candidates from the United Nationalist Alliance are Evangeline Esperas and Maria Elvira Casal.
Also running for a seat in the city council are Independent candidates Rodrigo Sabong, Roman Becher, Ferdinand Lomuntad, Ryan Allawan and Chrysanthemum Malate and Roly Corpin.
City election officer Goretti Cañas said COCs will be forwarded to the Commission on Elections main office law department by the provincial election office after encoding the information to the candidates profile system.
“The law department will determine who are qualified and who are not qualified as official candidates in 2016,” Cañas said.
This city, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, has more than 100,000 registered voters. (PNA)
FFC/SQM & MAUREEN E. PACIENCIA
