Cauldron of Dumaguete politics stirring

CEBU, Philippines - After independent candidate, Quirino Ramirez, on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Dumaguete City, three others have positioned themselves for the race: Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr., former mayor Felipe Antonio “Ipe” Remollo and radio blocktimer Dindo Generoso.

Ipe’s cousin, Councilor Antonio “Tony Rems” Remollo, who was earlier touted to ran for the mayoralty, opted out and will bid instead for the vice mayoralty post, in tandem with his relative, saying they will have more chances of winning with the setup.

After hearing Mass on Sunday, Tony Rems decided to be the running mate of Ipe, then met to discuss political matters with their team in their bid to “retake” the capital city of Negros Oriental.

Councilor Remollo said the IT team (or Ipe-Tony tandem), also known as the Information Technology or Intelligent Team for Dumaguete has a powerhouse team of lawyers in its slate for councilors.

They are incumbent councilors Manny Arbon, Lilani Ramon, former vice mayor Alan Cordova, former councilor Joe Kenneth Arbas, lawyer Michael Bandal, and former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Karissa Faye Tolentino.

The IT team had been finalizing also the inclusion of two barangay chairmen and two more from other sectors, said Tony Rems, adding that his group has been working on a coalition between the National Unity Party and the Liberal Party.

First district congressional bet Jocelyn Limkaichong of the LP clarified that Tony Rems and Ramos had asked for party nominations. However the female solon had chosen to support the gubernatorial bid of Representative George Arnaiz of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, against the re-election of Governor Roel Degamo of the NUP.

Tony Rems said the LP-NPC coalition will not work because he, of the LP, will be running against Councilor Jay-jay Esmena of the NPC for the vice mayoralty post.

Meanwhile, besides Generoso, two other radio blocktimers in Dumaguete, Jun Maata and Johnny Cahilog, and DyWC radio program anchor Anthony Maginsay have signified their intention to run for public office in the 2016 elections.

Maata was reportedly running for Provincial Board member (2nd district), while Maginsay will be vying for councilor of Amlan town. Cahilog, for his part, had already filed his COC for mayor of Bacong town.

Generoso and Maata were still waiting for their nomination from the PDP-Laban party, under provincial head Joel Obar, while Maginsay, who along with Cahilog will be running under the NUP, was still waiting for the blessing of his station manager.

Siquijor Provincial Election Supervisor Rafael Orillana, for his part, said only two, as of Tuesday, had filed their COCs for provincial posts. He identified them as independent Carl Mark Ganhinhin for the lone congressional district of Siquijor, and Regidor Miraflor, another independent bet for governor. — (FREEMAN)