Baste Duterte files candidacy for Davao City vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines — The youngest son of President Duterte, Sebastian, also  known as Baste, was among those who beat the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy (COCs) yesterday.

With his sister and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in tow, Sebastian filed his COC for vice mayor at the Commission on Elections office in Davao City.

Carpio decided not to run for senator even though she consistently made it to the so-called Magic 12 in recent pre-election surveys. She filed her COC on Tuesday to seek another term.

Their eldest brother Paolo  filed his COC as representative of the lone district of Davao City last week.

The Duterte siblings are all running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party, which Carpio heads.

Sebastian told reporters that his love for Davao City convinced him to run for public office. “I have been to many places but I always return here,” he said.

Sebastian said he consulted his parents about his political plans, but it was his personal decision to run for vice mayor.

“I have been thinking of ways to serve the people and one is through politics. I would be happy... if ever I win. I’ll be given the chance to serve the people,” he said.

Imelda to run for governor

Meanwhile, the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, 89-year-old Imelda, is running for governor of Ilocos Norte.

A lawyer represented Imelda, the incumbent congresswoman of the second district of Ilocos Norte, in filing her COC before noon.

Her grandson Matthew Manotoc, provincial board member and youngest son of Gov. Imee Marcos, is Imelda’s runningmate.

Imee’s cousin Vice Gov. Angelo Barba is seeking to fill  the congressional post that Imelda will vacate.

Chavit running for mayor

In Ilocos Sur, former governor and congressman Luis “Chavit” Singson is running for mayor of Narvacan town.

Singson and his runningmate, human rights lawyer Pablito Sanidad Sr., filed their COCs also yesterday.

Sanidad was also Singson’s runningmate in the gubernatorial elections in the late 60’s.

Singson, an incumbent councilor of Narvacan, will be running against Edgar Zaragoza, a former mayor and brother-in-law of second district Rep. Eric Singson. 

Isabela, Pangasinan politics

In Isabela, first district Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and Gov. Faustino Dy filed their COCs for governor and vice governor, respectively.

Dy’s brother, Napoleon, the incumbent representative of the third district, filed his COC for governor last week.   His runningmate is former     governor Grace Padaca.

Vice Gov. Antonio Albano is running for congressman of the first district.

Pangasinan third district Rep. Rose Marie Arenas was accompanied by her daughter Ma. Rachel, chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, when she filed her COC to seek reelection.

Transportation Undersecretary Tim Orbos is running for congressman of the first district of Pangasinan.

Orbos was with his wife Ditas; his brother Oscar, a  former governor; his father-in-law Rafael Colet, also a former governor, and fifth district Rep. Amado Espino III.

Old rivals

In Zamboanga City, old political rivals Rep. Celso Lobregat and Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar both filed their COCs for mayor.

Lobregat is running under the administration’s PDP-Laban while Salazar is with the Liberal Party.

Outgoing Mayor Meynard Sabili of Lipa City in Batangas filed his COC to run against Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, who is seeking another term.

Sabili said he is not threatened by Recto’s popularity. “Gusto kong magkaroon ng tunay na representative ang taong bayan. Hindi ko nararamdaman yon kaya tumakbo ako,” he said.

Recto defeated Sabili’s wife Bernadette in the 2016 elections as she garnered 57.9 percent of the votes cast.

Bernadette is seeking to fill  the post to be vacated by her husband.

As promised, Agusan del Norte Gov. Maria Angelica Rossdell Amante-Matba filed her COC for representative of the second district after her brother Rep. Erlpe John Amante decided to seek a second term.

Matba had earlier said she would contest whatever position her brother would seek.

Amante’s son Juan Miguel, 23, filed his COC for governor. He will be pitted against former Cabadbaran City mayor Dale Corvera.

Former congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay, daughter-in-law of former governor Vicente Magsaysay, filed her COC for representative of the first district of Zambales.

Former Zambales vice governor Ann Gordon is running for mayor of Olongapo City.

PDP-Laban bets

Governors Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao filed their COCs on Tuesday for congressman of Basilan and the second district of Maguindanao, respectively.

ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman is seeking a seat in Congress as representative of the second district of Lanao del Sur.

Maguindanao Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat is seeking reelection while Mayor Freddie Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town is running for governor.

They are all running under the administration party. – Artemio Dumlao, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Ben Serrano, Raymund Catindig, John Unson, Roel Pareño, Victor Martin, Bebot Sison, Arnell Ozaeta