CEBU, Philippines - Those aspiring to run in the newly created 7th district may have to wait past the 2016 elections if the Commission on Elections could not yet come up with a resolution laying down the district’s elective positions.
“Wala pa ta’y resolution sa 7th district. Wa ta kahibaw kung i-accommodate ba sa Comelec kanang bag-ong balaod,” said Cebu Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde.
Last month, President Aquino signed Republic Act 10684, creating the new district from parts of the existing second district which used to compose 15 local government units in the south. The 7th district includes Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan.
A few names have been floated to run for congressman in the new district, but Gujilde said possible candidates may have to shelve their plans if Comelec-Manila will not issue a resolution before the scheduled filing of certificates of candidacy between October 12 and 16.
Gujilde, however, said those who are aiming to run for public office in the said district could lobby for the passage of such resolution before the Comelec national office.
In a related development, Gujilde urged local candidates to file their COCs early to have enough time to make changes, if any.
He also said the registration of voters will be temporarily suspended on the filing days to accommodate those who will run for governor, vice governor, provincial board member and congressman in Cebu.
DAVIDE-AGNES, STILL?
Meanwhile, at the Provincial Capitol, the question of whether Vice Governor Agnes Magpale will still remain the runningmate of Governor Hilario Davide III in 2016 yet remains to be answered.
Magpale, a member of the local Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party, said nothing is final yet until COCs have been filed.
“(But) I am not saying that there will be changes,” she quickly clarified.
She dismissed speculations that the Davide-Magpale tandem will suffer a rift with Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero wooing the Bakud party.
Poe and Escudero, who are presidential and vice presidential aspirants, respectively, joined the influential Duranos and other Bakud officials for lunch in Danao City after a consultation meeting on Thursday.
Bakud is yet to decide which candidates to support in the national level.
Cebu Fifth District Representative Ace Durano, Bakud vice president and Escudero’s partymate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said the party will make the decision before October 16.
IN PLACE
The Liberal Party, to which Davide is affiliated, and the Durano-led Bakud have been in a coalition after sealing their formal alliance in 2012.
Magpale assured the alliance between the two parties in the local level is still in place. “At the moment, it’s Davide-Magpale being supported by Bakud,” she added.
Magpale and Davide announced their bids as early as April this year to dispel rumors that Magpale was planning to run for governor against Davide.
“I have talked to him: ‘Bisan mopirma pa ko Gov ug akong dugo patud-on, pirmahan nako, dili ko molansar pagka-gobernador,’” she once said in an interview.
Magpale said her party always welcomes any would-be candidates wanting to present their platforms.
“The better part of prudence is to accept everybody. Mamati ta sa ilang programa. We cannot take it against Bakud nganong gidawat kung kinsa ang mobisita as what we already did to others,” she said. — Liv G. Campo and Michael Vencynth H. Braga/JMD (FREEMAN)