DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – It’s a return bout for Gina de Venecia and Celia Lim, wife of Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim, in the congressional race in Pangasinan’s fourth district in the 2013 polls.
The original candidate, Mario Lim, yesterday withdrew his candidacy for congressman citing health reasons, and hours later, he was substituted by Celia Lim.
In the 2010 elections, De Venecia defeated Celia Lim.
Lim said it was a party decision and “we have to see the big picture and not only myself.”
She denied it was a last-minute decision, saying she had to consult all of the officers of the family-owned Magic Group of Companies.
Mayor Lim is seeking re-election, while son Brian is running for vice mayor, substituting yesterday for Alex Siapno.
The Lims are running under the Nacionalista Party, and De Venecia under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.