Lawmaker withdraws candidacy for La Union mayoral race

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – First district Rep. Victor Ortega on Saturday announced that he would withdraw his candidacy for mayor of San Fernando City and would be replaced by his wife, former mayor Mary Jane Ortega.

Ortega, who is on his final term, told The STAR that Mary Jane would file her certificate of candidacy on Nov. 12 as his substitute.

“I will process first the documents for the substitution at the Liberal Party headquarters in Manila before Mary Jane can file her COC at the Comelec office in San Fernando,” Ortega said.

He said he decided not to join the mayoral race after consulting with his family and relatives, including San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega.

“I realized that she (Mary Jane) would do better for the residents of San Fernando, being a former mayor. I just want to focus on the seven months left in my term in Congress so I can deliver more for my district,” Ortega said.

The lawmaker endorsed Pablo to replace him in Congress.

The announcement was held at the Ortega ancestral home in Barangay 4 here and was attended by 59 village chiefs and city officials of San Fernando.

“We announced early so our supporters would stop campaigning for me,” the lawmaker said.