DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Gina de Venecia filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) at around 9 a.m. yesterday at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this city.
De Venecia, who is seeking her third term under the Liberal Party-Biskeg na Pangasinan parties, said the date and time of her filing is special to her, as she dedicates it to the 100th birth anniversary of her father, the late Jose Perez, owner of movie production company Sampaguita Pictures. Perez died in 1972.
The congresswoman said she had to rush to her dad’s hometown in Bulacan where a party celebrating his life and achievements was being held.
Her husband, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., was not with her when she filed her COC as he was in China.
Peaceful, orderly
Meanwhile, the chief of the Comelec office in Ilocos said the filing of COCs in the region remains peaceful and orderly.
Lawyer Noli Pipo attributed the peaceful and orderly situation to the behavior of the candidates and their supporters, who were asked to observe peace and order, not only during the filing of the COCs, but also until the end of the campaign period for next year’s elections.
Pipo said no untoward incident has been reported in all Comelec offices in the region during the COC filing.
Superintendent Ferdinand de Asis, Pangasinan police spokesman, said no violent incident occurred in Pangasinan.
De Asis said this could be due to the presence of police personnel around the Comelec premises.
Pipo lauded the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese for launching the “One Good Vote” campaign.
Zambales politicians file COCs
A heated political battle looms in Zambales as known political clans started filing their COCs for the local positions in the 2016 elections.
Reelectionist Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. filed his COC yesterday along with Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II and his complete line-up of provincial board members.
Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino is expected to file his COC today, the last day of filing.
Seeking to dislodge Ebdane is former governor Amor Deloso of the Liberal Party, who is expected to file his COC today.
Angel Magsaysay-Cheng, daughter of former governor Vicente Magsaysay, filed her COC on Wednesday for the vice governor post.
The Magsaysays have reportedly teamed up with the Delosos, an old political rival in Zambales, in forming a “dream team” against Ebdane and Lacbain of the Sulong Zambales Party.
Anne Marie Gordon, from another powerful clan, will file her COC for vice governor today, sources said.
Businessman Michael Macapagal, son of former Olongapo City mayor Ted Macapagal, is also throwing his hat into the political arena as first district representative.
Ebdane’s son, Jun Omar, filed his COC to challenge first district Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla.
DILG chief’s brother joins politics
The older brother of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy for a congressional seat in Samar.
Edgar Mary Sarmiento, 58, the third of seven Sarmiento siblings, filed his COC along with the entire local slate of the ruling Liberal Party.
Sarmiento said the DILG chief convinced him to run and continue his unfinished projects under the nine-year term road map.
A native of Calbayog City, Sarmiento is president and chief executive officer of the Sarmiento Construction Inc. based in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
“I am not inclined to join politics. I focused on my contracting business here because I don’t want to destroy my brother. But he pleaded with me because there is much to be done,” he said.
Sarmiento said he has experiences and knowledge that could be an asset to help improve the economic condition of Samar residents.
The LP fielded former military intelligence officer Emilio Javier Zosa and Rosa Jessica Uy Delgado as governor and vice governor, respectively; Zumarraga mayor Myrna Ojeda Tan as second district representative, and Sarmiento for the first district. – With Bebot Sison Jr., Ricky Bautista