La Union gubernatorial bet withdraws candidacy

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – The gubernatorial candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) yesterday withdrew her certificate of candidacy to give way to the brother of incumbent Gov. Manuel Ortega.

Janet Cartas, councilor of Barangay Gana in Caba town, withdrew her candidacy a few minutes before Mario Eduardo Ortega, the governor’s executive assistant, filed his COC as her substitute.

Cartas picked Mario as her substitute after Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos approved his candidacy.

Jose Vicente Opinion, KBL’s chairman and president, issued Mario’s nomination, which was received by Joel Gines, the Comelec provincial officer.

Mario, a former national vice president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, will be facing three other gubernatorial bets, which include his nephew Abono party-list Rep. Francisco Emmanuel  Ortega III, who filed his COC as an independent bet.

The party-list congressman is a son of Gov. Ortega.