Ex-Cagayan governor to run in special polls

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – This early, former Cagayan governor Edgar Lara has declared his bid to regain his former seat as the province’s second district representative in the special elections set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on March 12.

The second district congressional post became vacant following the death of Rep. Florencio Vargas Sr. due to a lingering illness a week before the opening of the 15th Congress.

Last month, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. designated Cagayan first district Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. as caretaker of the vacated district pending the election of a new representative there. 

“Definitely, I will be running for my district in the special elections,” said Lara who had served as the district’s representative for three consecutive terms before being elected for two terms as governor. 

Lara lost in his bid for what could have been his third and final term as governor to then Alcala mayor, now Gov. Alvaro Antonio in the 2007 polls, which his camp alleged to be one of Cagayan’s dirtiest elections ever. 

During the last elections, Lara tried but failed to regain his House seat, losing to the then third-term-seeking, 72-year-old Vargas. 

“I see one of the Vargases to be also running for the post,” he said.

The second district comprises the towns of Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Calayan, Claveria, Lasam, Piat, Rizal, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes and Santo Niño. 

Besides Lara and former OIC governor Melvin Vargas, also reportedly considering joining the race is former congresswoman Cecilia Layus, now mayor of Claveria town and the president of the provincial mayors’ league. 

The Comelec, in Resolution No. 9109, scheduled the special elections in Cagayan’s second district on March 12 with the election period starting Feb. 10 and ending on March 22. The filing of certificates of candidacy is on Feb. 21-25, and the campaign period, from Feb. 26 to March 10. 

The Comelec resolution was an offshoot of a House resolution authored by Enrile and Cagayan third district Rep. Randolph Ting, seeking the conduct of the special elections in the second district due to the vacancy left by Vargas’ death. 

“This is what we worked for so that the second district can have its duly elected representative in Congress. I hope that the voters shall continue to vote wisely,” said Enrile, son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.