BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – Many incumbent and former officials in the Cordillera region are vying for the top local positions up for grabs in the midyear elections on May 12, 2025.
Based on the certificates of candidacy (COC) received by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the week-long filing from October 1 to 8, 2024, at least 12 incumbent governors (5), vice governors (4) and congressional district representatives (4) are running for reelection in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province.
In Baguio City, the incumbent mayor and vice mayor are seeking another term.
In Abra, former Congressman Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos filed his COC for another term as Representative of the Lone District of Abra under the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats. He is joined by former Governor Eustaquio Bersamin who will run for governor and Anne Marie Bersamin for the vice gubernatorial seat.
Under Team Asenso, incumbent Bangued Mayor Mila Valera will go for the congressional seat while his grandson and incumbent Bangued Vice Mayor Kiko Bernos will run as Governor. Incumbent Vice Governor Jocelyn will seek another term in office. Another bet for congress is Derdrei Roce Luna Ifurung who will run as independent candidate.
In Apayao, incumbent Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang is unopposed as she seeks for second term in office while incumbent Board Member Kyle Bulut-Cunan is also unopposed for the vice gubernatorial post. Incumbent Governor Elias Bulut Jr. and independent aspirant Domingo Purieng vie for the gubernatorial post.
In Benguet, Congressman Eric Go Yap and Governor Melchor Diclas are seeking re-election under the Lakas CMD, while incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SB) member Rose Marie Fongwan-Kepes will run as vice governor. Running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas are incumbent Vice Governor Ericson Felipe for the congressional seat, with former vice governors Johnny Waguis for governor and Nelson Dangwa for vice governor. Independent candidates who also filed their COCs for a seat in Congress are Juanito Siddayao, Jerome Wakat, and Adam Yap. Incumbent SP member Ruben Paoad and businessman George Punasen are aspiring the gubernatorial post while incumbent SP Fernando Balaodan and Sammy Paran are bets for the vice gubernatorial post.
For the province of Ifugao, it will be a four-cornered fight for the seat in Congress with incumbent Congressman Solomon Chungalao who is seeking his last term in office under the NPC, new comer Francis Cuyop from the PFP, Valdo Boyd Ngipol under the PDP Laban, and independent candidate Nelson Ayoc. For gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. Jerry Dalipog will be challenged by former gov. Eugene Balitang of the PFP and independent candidates Romy Ballatong and Rolando Paligan. The vice gubernatorial race will be between incumbent Vice Gov. Glenn Prudenciano and incumbent Lagawe Mayor Martin Habawel.
In Kalinga, it will be a three- cornered fight for the seat in Congress among Caroline Agyao of the PFP, Steve Ludan of the NPC and independent candidate incumbent Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab. For the gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. James Edduba will run against former governor and incumbent Vice Governor Jocel Baac. Aspiring the vice gubernatorial post are incumbent SP member Danzel Langkit, independent candidates Mark Aldrich Diasen and Antonio Bakilan, and former vice gov. Dave Odiem.
For Mountain Province, it will be a one on one race for the congressional and gubernatorial seats with the incumbents seeking reelection. Cong. Maximo Dalog Jr. of the Nationalist Party will run against independent candidate Allen Ocden while Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. of the PFP will face former Sagada Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. Incumbent Vice Governor Francis Tauli of the PFP will run against four independent candidates, Florencio Morales, Cleto Chacapna Jr., Jose Dominguez, and Albert Paday-os.
In Baguio City, former Congressmen Mauricio Domogan and Nicasio Aliping Jr. are up to get their old post back. They will be running against Sol Go, wife of incumbent Congressman Mark Go under the Lakas CMD, Gladys Vergara under the NPC, councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. under the PFP, and independent candidates Francis Camtugan and Win-win Demoni. For the mayoralty race, Mayor Benjamin Magalong is seeking his third term in office. Also vying for the position are Cong. Mark Go who is on his last term in Congress, councilor Benny Bomogao, and independent candidates Camo Abdul, Rei Ann Cayetano and Mark Andrew Directo. It will be a one-on-one contest between incumbent Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and councilor Mylen Yaranon for the vice mayoralty seat.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office – Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) reported a generally peaceful conduct of the filing of COC in the region with no untoward incident recorded from October 1 to 8, 2024.
PRO-CAR Regional Director PBGen David K Peredo, Jr. attributed this to the heightened security measures where PRO-CAR deployed a total of 2,796 police personnel to enhance security and order in the different filing centers regionwide.
Peredo commended the men and women of PRO-CAR for their outstanding performance in ensuring a safe and peaceful conduct of the filing of COCs across the region. He praised them for their diligence in conducting patrols, establishing checkpoints, and managing traffic, all of which were crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the community.
He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the local government units and other force multipliers in maintaining peace and order throughout the region during the filing period where a a total of 1,457 aspiring candidates successfully filed their COCs.
Peredo assured that that PRO-CAR remains steadfast in its commitment to securing a peaceful and orderly environment as the region prepares for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections. (JDP/RMC with PIACAR- SLU Interns)
