Borgonia withdraws bid for reelection

CEBU, Philippines — The incumbent third district board member of Cebu Province, John Ismael Borgonia, has officially withdrawn his candidacy for reelection in the upcoming elections.

In a letter dated March 24, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Law Department stated that Borgonia's Certificate of Candidacy (COC) was "considered withdrawn" effective March 13, 2025.

Borgonia personally filed his statement of withdrawal on March 13 before the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES).

The Comelec Law Department received the statement on March 17, following its endorsement by the OPES.

However, Comelec clarified that since the Candidates Profile System (CPS) had already been finalized for the configuration of the Automated Election System for the May 12 elections, Borgonia's name could not be removed from the official ballot or the certified list of candidates.

"Your name will still be included therein; however, you shall not be voted for, and any votes cast in your favor shall be considered stray," Comelec stated in the letter signed by Atty. Sittie Maimon Azisa Tawagon, Director IV of the Comelec Law Department.

Efforts by The Freeman to reach Borgonia for a statement regarding his withdrawal were unsuccessful as of press time.

Borgonia was initially set to run for his third term as a Sangguniang Panlalawigan member of Cebu Province under One Cebu party. — (FREEMAN)