Filing of COCs peaceful

 CEBU, Philippines - Amidst calls to put the entire fourth district of the Province of  Cebu under the control of the Commission  on Elections, the filing of certificates of candidacy of rival camps was noticeably peaceful.

Provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that since the start of the filing of the COCs last Monday, augmentation forces were already deployed in the area to ensure peace and security.

The group of Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. and his running mate, Vice Mayor Santiago Sevilla, filed their COCs under the Liberal Party last Thursday afternoon.

The group of Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung also filed their COCs yesterday morning after attending mass with hundreds of supporters at the San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church.

Although Yeung was not around during the filing, her chief of staff, lawyer Joje Decal, carried with her the special power of attorney (SPA) for the authorized filing of Yeung’s COC.

City election officer Carla Espina said that there was no legal impediment in the filing of Yeung’s COC without her physical appearance since they presented the SPA.

Provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that the SPA is allowed in the filing but not in the withdrawal of the candidacy.

Yeung’s brothers, Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Cesar, Edwin and Freddie, along with her nieces and nephews, joined the group in the filing of her COC along with her slate under the National Unity Party (NUP)

Rep. Salimbangon signed the certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) of the candidates being the regional chairman of NUP-Visayas.

The Salimbangons picked Martinez’s ally, incumbent city councilor Victor “Elliot” Lepiten III, as Yeung’s running mate. Lepiten is now on his last term as councilor.

He said that he was offered by Martinez to run for the Provincial Board seat under LP but he refused, saying that he cannot afford to launch a district-wide campaign.

 Yeung, a neophyte in politics, ran for mayor in the 2010 elections with her brother, Cesar, as her running mate and they both lost to Martinez and Sevilla respectively, by 6,000 votes in a city with a population of over 49,000.

Cesar’s son, Francis “Chad” Salimbangon ran for councilor instead.

Other candidates for councilor under Yeung’s slate are incumbent councilor Glenn Jumao-as, Jack Lepiten, Arturo Pacifico, Helen Banson, Allan Bercero, Frank Precillas, Edwin Ortega, Ramel Gelig and Bong Galve.  (FREEMAN)