Sara Duterte files candidacy for mayor, not senator

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Ending speculations on her plans for the 2019 elections, presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday to seek reelection.

Carpio was accompanied by her lawyer husband Manases when she filed her COC at the Commission on Elections office in this city at around 4 p.m.

Carpio is running under the Hugpong Pagbabago party, which she heads.

“From the very start, I was saying I am not running for senator,” she said.

President Duterte has repeatedly said that Carpio is not interested in seeking a national post.

Carpio consistently made it to the so-called Magic 12 in recent pre-election surveys,  fueling speculations that she would run for senator.

When asked who will be her runningmate, Carpio said talks are ongoing.

There were reports that her younger brother Sebastian will run for vice mayor.

It was not immediately known if any one will contest Carpio’s bid for reelection.

Her elder brother Paolo filed his COC for congressman of the first district of this city last Thursday.

Grace Padaca running again

 Also yesterday, former Isabela governor Grace Padaca filed her COC for vice governor.

Padaca filed her COC under the Aksyon Demokratiko party.  She will be the runningmate of Isabela third district Rep. Napoleon Dy, who filed his COC under the Nationalist People’s Coalition last week.

The Dy-Padaca team will be pitted against outgoing Isabela first district Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who is running for governor, and Dy’s brother and incumbent governor Faustino III, for vice governor.

Padaca defeated Faustino III in the 2004 elections, but he defeated her in the 2010 polls.

Trece Martires mayor’s father

In Cavite, Melencio de Sagun Jr., a former mayor of Trece Martires City and father of incumbent mayor Melandres, who was tagged in the killing of Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan on July 8, also filed his COC yesterday.

“Truth and justice will come out soon,” Melencio said when asked about the alleged involvement of his son in the murder.

Lubigan and his driver Romulo Guilemer were killed while his aide Romeo Edrinal was wounded in an ambush last July. Melandres was among those charged with frustrated murder and two counts of murder in connection with the killing.

Lubigan’s wife Gemma is reportedly filing her COC for mayor today.

Espinos

In Pangasinan, Gov. Amado Espino III filed his COC also to seek another term.

Espino’s father Amado, the incumbent fifth district representative who is also seeking reelection, and the governor’s brother Jumel, mayor of Bugallon town who is running for congressman of the second district, also filed their COCs.

Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia is also seeking reelection. 

Former speaker Jose de Venecia and his wife Gina as well as Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats president Rep. Martin Romualdez accompanied Cristopher when he filed his COC.

A former member of the Liberal Party, Christopher recently took his oath with Lakas-CMD. 

Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac filed his COC for congressman under the administration’s PDP-Laban.

Baac is running against incumbent lawmaker Allen Jessie Mangaoang, who was appointed caretaker congressman of the lone district of Kalinga following the death of Rep. Maximo Dalog last year.

The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Baac for six months last year for beating up Sangguniang Panlalawigan secretary Matthew Matbagan.

Malacañang also suspended Baac for one month when he punched Jerome Tabanganay of dzRK-Radyo ng Bayan Kalinga.

Alex Cauguiran, who resigned as Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive officer, said he would run for mayor of Angeles City under the local party Abe Kapampangan. 

La Union first district Rep. Pablo Ortega accompanied his wife Mariquita when she filed her COC for councilor.  – With Ed Amoroso, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Artemio Dumlao, Ding Cervantes, Jun Elias, Cesar Ramirez