Butuan Lakas poll bets file their COCs

BUTUAN CITY — Local Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) bets from the City Mayor down to the City Councilors have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) with City Comelec Officer Abelardo Saco yesterday.

Former City Mayor Democrito Plaza II, who is running again for city mayor after a three-year hiatus from politics, leads the official Lakas-CMD slate.

The candidates, mostly incumbents, trooped to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this city and were the first to file their certificates of candidacy in the entire Caraga region.

Denying reports that they may transfer their support to movie star Fernando Poe Jr., Plaza was quoted as saying in a press conference here that it's not going to happen as his group owes a lot to President Arroyo in the construction of Butuan’s second bridge, estimated to be worth P2.88 billion, the biggest and most modern in Mindanao.

Plaza’s running mate is incumbent Vice Mayor Angelo Calo while the party’s congressional bet is incumbent Rep. Leovigildo Banaag of the 1st district of Agusan del Norte-Butuan City.

The incumbent Butuan City Mayor is Plaza’s wife, Leonides Theresa, a political neophyte.