DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Sixteen towns and three cities in Pangasinan received certificates of candidacy (COCs) from aspiring mayors, vice mayors and councilors as well as congressmen as of Saturday, records from the local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed.
Pangasinan has 44 towns and four cities.
The COCs were filed in the towns of Alcala, Asingan, Binalonan, Binmaley, Calasiao, Dasol, Labrador, Malasiqui, Mabini, Mapandan, San Jacinto, Sison, Sto. Tomas, Sual, Tayug and Villasis as well as in the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta.
Dagupan and Urdaneta received one COC each, both for seats in the local councils.
The rest included three COCs for congressmen, six for board members, 13 for mayors, 10 for vice mayors and 106 for councilmen.
In Zambales, Vice Gov. Jay Khonghun filed his COC for the congressional seat in the first district.
Khonghun’s sister Jaq also filed her COC as running-mate of reelectionist Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
First district Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun, who is in his last term in office, is running for mayor of Castillejos.
Meanwhile, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has accepted the nomination of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats as its candidate for the second district of Pampanga.
In Quezon province, Rep. Angelina Tan yesterday filed her COC for the position of governor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, along with her running-mate, Councilor Anacleto Alcala III.
Tan chairs the House committee on health.
In Agusan del Norte, detained Jabonga town Vice Mayor Glicerio Monton was the first to file his COC for the position of mayor.
Monton, who is jailed on drug charges and illegal possession of explosives, will have his wife – incumbent Mayor Jasmine Monton – as running- mate. – Ric Sapnu, Michelle Zoleta, Ben Serrano