BY IME SORNITO and RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – The first day of the five-day period for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 13, 2018 midterm elections was generally peaceful throughout Western Visayas, according to Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director.
“We have not received reports on COC filing-related incidents,” he said yesterday afternoon.
Local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) started receiving COCs at 8 a.m. and closed at 5 p.m.
Bulalacao said the PRO-6 posted “action officers” to various Comelec offices across the region to safeguard COC filers and maintain order especially among supporters of the candidates.
Here are some of the COC filers:
* Iloilo City’s Mayor Jose Espinosa III and his line-up under the Nacionalista Party: former city councilor Perla Zulueta (his candidate for congresswoman), Councilor R Leone Gerochi (running mate for vice mayor), and reelectionist councillors Eduardo Peñaredondo, Candice Magdalene Tupas, Mandrie Malabor, Lyndon Acap, and Leizl Zulueta-Salazar. Also with them was former councilor Rodel Fullon-Agado.
* Cong. Ferjenel Biron for Iloilo governor and running mate Vice Gov. Christine Garin
* reelectionist Cong. Richard Garin (1st District, Iloilo)
* reelectionist Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan members (1st District, Iloilo) Renee Valencia and Valentin Serag
* Jonry Gargarita of Barangay Lay-ahan, Pototan, Iloilo for governor
* reelectionist Cong. Raul Tupas (5th District, Iloilo)
* Leon, Iloilo’s Mayor Rolito Cahilig for Sangguniang Panlalawigan member
* Pavia, Iloilo’s Mayor Michael Gorriceta for 2nd District congressman
* Dr. Nielito Tupas and Atty. Carol Espinosa for Sangguniang Panlalawigan member
* Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo’s Mayor Braeden John Biron for 4th District congressman/PN
