Tining-Benhur rematch in 4th district

CEBU, Philippines - A rematch between the Salimbangons and the Martinezes in the fourth district of the Province of Cebu is set for the 2013 elections.

Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. announced yesterday that his son, former mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III under Liberal Party, is running again against Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of One Cebu party.

Either Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung or her brother, Cesar Salimbangon, is reportedly running against Junie for the mayoralty post in Bogo City.

“Welcome to the arena,” said Junie at the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Tining was declared winner in 2007 election only a month before the 2010 elections, when he first ran against Salimbangon.

In 2010 elections, Tining lost to Rep. Salimbangon by more than 70,000 votes.

Yeung lost to Junie in 2010 elections with more than 5,000 margin and her running mate, Cesar, also lost in the vice mayoralty position.

The Martinezes have yet to schedule the filing of their certificates of candidacy while Rep. Salimbangon is set to file today his COC for reelection as congressman at the Commission on Elections provincial office at the Capitol.

To file along with him today are incumbent Provincial Board Members Sun Shimura and Joven Mondigo Jr.

Rep. Salimbangon told The Freeman that One Cebu slate for Bogo City will file their COCs on Friday.

Junie explained that he is not running for congressman because he still has a lot of projects to be done in Bogo City.

“Para nako makawili ba kaayo, it's not just running but it is running for cause or for a purpose,” he said.

While One Cebu party already has complete slates in the fourth district, Junie announced that LP is also almost complete.

Though he refused to name, Junie said their bets for PB comes from Bogo City and the other one is from Bantayan Island.

With him yesterday were former San Remigio mayor Mariano Martinez, former Tabogon councilors Ronald Quinain and Mariano Catam-isan.

Mariano Martinez is set to run for mayor again in San Remigio while Quinain is running for mayor in Tabogon with Catam-isan as his running mate.

Mariano Martinez said that he is still in the process of deciding as his wife just passed away last month.

“I'm really thinking about it very, very seriously,” he said.

He was PB member before he completed his three terms as mayor of San Remigio while in the 2010 elections, he lost in the PB race.-(FREEMAN)