Baguio politics a 'royal rumble'

La Trinidad, Benguet , Philippines  – Best described as a “royal rumble,” Baguio’s political landscape for the 2010 polls has taken shape.

Yesterday morning, the line up of Sen. Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party filed their candidacies making the congressional, mayoral and vice-mayoral races here turning into a multi-race, hence, more interesting.

Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong filing his congressional bid yesterday morning at Comelec Baguio made the lone legislative seat an eight-cornered fight.

The “early birds” – incumbent Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.’s (independent), incumbent councilor Nicasio Aliping and pastor Abet Quilala (PDP-Laban), filing their bids for the congressional seat Friday last week began to give shape to the almost “unpredictable” lineups.

Six-cornered battle

The mayoralty post battle also is showing a six cornered battle between Councilor Antonio Tabora Jr. of NP who just filed yesterday, third-term Rep. Mauricio Domogan (Lakas-Kampi) who had not yet officially filed his COC, former councilor Jose Molintas of LP who, together with his lineup will file on Dec. 1, former mayor Jun Labo who is not officially a candidate yet, Estrada businessman-friend Mark Go and incumbent Councilor Elaine Sembrano.

The ruling coalition’s local bets here topbilled by congressional bet Bernardo Vergara (NPC) and Domogan have not officially came out with their lineup in the midst of some of their trusted lieutenants like former councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia (earlier rumored to be the vice-mayoral bet of the team) jumping over to the Liberal Party led by former councilor Leandro Yangot who is gunning for Congress.

The “bolt” nevertheless, gave Lakas-Kampi here a blessing with the return of Councilor Lourdes Tabanda (who was orphaned by Bautista’s turning independent) and former Councilor Elmer Datuin (who was LP head Yangot’s vice mayoral teammate in 2007) back to their coalition.

Expectedly like Benguet, Baguio will also become a tug-o-war between Benguet-Kankanaey and Ibaloi wannabes with minority lowland voters as a plus factor.

Benguet’s three-term congressman Samuel Dangwa (Lakas) is said to be not too old to become governor again. He is said to be slugging it out against incumbent Gov. Nestor Fongwan (Kampi) if the Lakas-Kampi coalition won’t work in Benguet.

The Liberal Party has also organized its forces in Benguet headed by former Aksyon Demokratiko stalwart and former congressman Ronald Cosalan trying his mettle again.    – Artemio Dumlao