ILOILO — Recent withdrawals of certificates of candidacy (COCs) have left a pair of candidates for municipal mayor in this province running unopposed for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
Incumbent Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Atty. Carl Mondejar of New Lucena now stands unopposed for the mayoralty following the withdrawal of his aunt, incumbent Mayor Leicel Mondejar-Seville, from the reelection race.
Seville, opting instead to run for an SB member position, cited a desire to give her relative a chance to serve as mayor. She expressed confidence in Mondejar’s capabilities to lead New Lucena.
In Calinog, incumbent Mayor Francisco Calvo is unopposed as a reelectionist after his sole challenger, independent candidate Heracleo Fernandez Jr., withdrew.
According to Cecile Casono, the Election Officer of Calinog, Fernandez submitted his withdrawal documents. However, he did not disclose his reasons for withdrawing.
Under the rules of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), withdrawals with substitutions were permitted from October 1 to 8, and candidates must belong to a political party. After October 8, withdrawals are still allowed, but no substitutions can occur unless due to death or disqualification of a candidate.
With these latest developments, the total number of unopposed mayoralty candidates in Iloilo province has risen to 10. The previously unopposed candidates, all incumbents, include:
* Mayor Ian Keneth Alfeche of Alimodian from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
* Mayor Suzette Mamon of Badiangan from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
* Mayor Vicente Jaen II of Leganes from the Nacionalista Party
* Mayor Oscar Villegas Jr. of Lemery from Lakas –CMD
* Mayor Francisco Amboy of Maasin from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
* Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. of Oton from the Nacionalista Party
* Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia from the Nacionalista Party
* Mayor Dennis Superficial of Santa Barbara from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
Each of these 10 unopposed candidates now only requires a single vote to secure their respective positions in the upcoming election cycle./PN
