Department of Agriculture chief runs unopposed in Bohol

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap is assured of a congressional seat in next year’s election as he runs unopposed for the third district of Bohol.

He will replace incumbent Rep. Adam Relson Jala who still has a term to serve as he is now serving his second term.

Yap is the bet of the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

There were speculations earlier that incumbent third-district representative or (his father), former three-term representative Eladio Jala, who are both members of the ruling Lakas-Kampi, would challenge Yap. But Jala, filed his COC to lawyer Elesio Lavaria for vice governor, a few minutes before the deadline at midnight Tuesday.

The elder Jala, currently assistant secretary at the Department of Transportation and Communications, according to sources was given a post at the Securities and Exchange Commission two weeks ago. Jala is the running mate of the province’ first district outgoing Rep. Edgar Chato under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Yap, a native of Tarlac, is a resident of Loboc town where his wife is a native. The Jalas also are residents of Loboc. The third district of Bohol has 19 municipalities. The third district has 19 towns.

Actor Richard Gomez who filed his candidacy in Tacloban City is running under the Liberal Party. Gomez, whose main issue is his residential status being married to Ormocana Princess Lucy Torres, but residing most of the time in Manila is banking on his popularity being an actor against Mayor Eric Codilla. Codilla said that he will continue what his father has started for the benefit of the people of the district. Gomez, who claimed to be an advocate for change, wants to put up new tourist destinations for the city and the district.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo’s economic adviser and incumbent Albay Gov. Joey Salceda was unchallenged as not one candidate coming from majority and minority political parties had filed their candidacies until the 12 midnight filing deadline Tuesday, finally dismissing reports of three known politicians here to challenge the economist.

However, at least one familiar and another unfamiliar name surfaced and filed their certificates of candidacy to challenge the Albay governor. They are Kapayapaan, Katarungan, Kaunlaran (KKK) bet Linda Montayre, an independent and a perennial candidate for Albay governor during elections and a certain Marcelino Gallardo, of the Philippine Green Republican Party, a new name, as candidate from Daraga town.

Earlier reported by local political camps as potential challengers of Salceda were last-term Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal; former Cory Aquino cabinet secretary and ex-senator Victor Ziga; and Albay second district Rep. Al Francis Bichara’s brother Steve Bichara.

All the three had already denied reports that they would challenge Salceda, who made a historic move of filing his COC on the first filing day on Nov. 20.

Unopposed

Additionally, it’s the first time in the political history of this second class town in northern La Union, Balaoan that the candidates for mayor, vice mayor and eight councilors for the 2010 elections were all unopposed and no one dared to challenge the team of the ruling local coalition.

Mayor Al-Fred Concepcion, a lawyer who was already sure of his second term, told The STAR that no one came out to oppose the local coalition of Lakas-Kampi CMD and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) because his group and his administration are recognized as a team of good governance.

“We are united and we lead by example. We will continue our administration of good governance and responsible, accountable leadership,” said Concepcion, a former three term board member before becoming vice mayor until he was elected mayor in 2007.

Concepcion’s running mate is his nephew, incumbent Vice Mayor Gerard Ostrea, son of incumbent provincial board member and former mayor Joaquin Ostrea Jr.

Concepcion is with the Lakas-Kampi CMD party while Ostrea is under NPC.

Marcoses, Ablan in Ilocos Norte

In Laoag City, Imee Marcos, eldest daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, her cousin re-electionist Gov. Michael Keon and outgoing first district Rep. Roque Ablan Jr. are headed for a rumble over the gubernatorial post of Ilocos Norte in  next year’s polls.A fourth candidate Lucida Flores also filed a COC for the same post.

Imee’s mother, former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos is also on the run for the second district congressional post to be vacated by her son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is running for senator.

Mrs. Marcos’ opponent is former Ilocos Norte vice governor Mariano Nalupta Jr.

In the first district congressional race, comebacking former governor and Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas beat the deadline Tuesday to file his bid for a House seat that is set to be vacated by Ablan.

Fariñas, a former political foe of the Marcoses, is in Imee’s NP slate, a surprising development. He told newsmen he has reconciled with Imee and Bongbong whom he said convinced him to run for the House seat.

He will face Miguel Ablan (Lakas-Kampi), his brother-in-law, SP member Renato Peralta (LP) former Sarrat mayor Chito Ruiz (KBL) and former Pagudpud mayor Reynolan Sales (PMP).

In other developments, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo’s bid for a third and last term will face opposition from her former ally, board member Mariano Tangson who filed his COC for governor Tuesday, formalizing an Angara-Tangson face-off in the 2010 elections.

Provincial election supervisor, lawyer Gilbert Almario, said Angara-Castillo of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino has tapped board member Danilo Tolentino as her running mate while Tangson will run under the banner of the Nationalista Party without a vice governor.

A third candidate for governor is university professor Ruben de la Cruz, a perennial bet who lost to Angara-Castillo in the 2007 polls. – With Celso Amo, Marianne Go, Jun Elias, Teddy Molina, Manny Galvez