No rivals for Ecija lawmaker, 2 mayors

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines  – A two-term congressman and two municipal mayors have made local history for running unopposed in the 2013 elections.

Second district Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago will have no opponent after nobody filed a certificate of candidacy in his district which covers the cities of San Jose and Muñoz and the towns of Carranglan, Llanera, Lupao, Pantabangan, Rizal and Talugtog.

The 42-year-old Violago, who is running for a third and last term under the Liberal Party (LP), is a son of former three-term congressman Eleuterio Violago.

The younger Violago was first elected congressman in 2007, beating former lawmaker Simeon Garcia Jr. and was reelected in 2010 by beating a retired fiscal.

Violago’s younger sister is reelectionist San Jose City Mayor Marivic Belena who is running against former vice mayor Mario Salvador. 

Violago is an estranged ally of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali in the latter’s local party Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago and the LP. He was earlier rumored to be challenging Umali’s reelection bid.    

Aside from Violago, also running unopposed are Sta. Rosa Mayor Josefino Angeles of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija, and Wilfredo Domingo of Balane-United Nationalist Alliance.     

In Nueva Ecija’s 27 municipalities and five cities, 21 incumbent mayors are running for reelection.