13 file COCs for Southern Leyte, South Cotabato special polls

MANILA, Philippines — There are 13 candidates in the special elections for representatives of newly created districts in Southern Leyte and South Cotabato on Oct. 26.

Records at the Commission on Elections show that three filed their certificates of candidacy as representative of the first district and five of the second district of Southern Leyte.

Former congressman Roger Mercado is running against independent bets Vicente Geraldo and Albert Esclamado in the first district.

In the second district, former first district representative Aniceto Saludo will slug it out with Miguelino Caturan, Napoleon Cuaton, Sheffered Tan and Christopherson Yap.

Isidro Lumayag is running unopposed in the first district of South Cotabato.

There are four candidates in the third district – Pedro Acharon, Shirlyn Banas- Nograles, Abelardo Plaza and Benjamin Rivera.

The campaign period for the special elections, which started on Wednesday, is until Oct. 24.

Republic Act 11198, which divides Southern Leyte into two districts, took effect on Feb. 19. RA 11243, which creates the lone district of General Santos City was signed on March 11.