Negros Oriental Provincial Board member seeks 3rd dist congressional seat

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Incumbent Provincial Board Member Arnulfo Teves, Jr. on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy bid for a congressional seat of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental, in lieu of his brother, Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, who is now on his third and final term in Congress.

PBM Teves was accompanied by his legal counsel, Jun Maxell Orlina, in formally sealing his candidacy under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Teves, as chair of Barangay Malabugas in Bayawan City, currently sits as ex-oficio member of the PB being the president of the federated Association of Barangay Captains of Negros Oriental.

His candidacy brought the 3rd district seat into a three-cornered fight, with Doctor Henry Sojor and Ivy Marie Dumat-ol Pergamino, from Boyco, Bayawan City.

Running as an independent, Pergamino filed her COC Wednesday afternoon also, while Sojor, former president of the Negros Oriental State University, earlier announced he will be running for Congress under the ticket of re-electionist Governor Roel Degamo.

Degamo and his team filed their COCs yesterday morning at the Comelec provincial office.

Meanwhile in Tanjay City, at least six mayoralty candidates have already filed their COCs last Wednesday, according to City Election Officer Ian Macaraya.

The aspirants for mayor are former mayor Nilo Tam, the Liberal Party’s official bet, and Councilor Rolando Tabaloc, former mayor Arturo Regalado, former vice mayor Neil Salma, Joel Tam and Gregorio Limatoc—all independents.

Macaraya said his office was expecting at least four more mayoral candidates to file their COCs: Incumbent Vice Mayor Jose Pepe Orlino, Councilors Rey Concepcion, and Steve Teves, the brother of the Tanjay City Mayor Lawrence Teves

Last-termer Mayor Teves was reportedly seeking the vice mayoralty seat, but he has yet to file his COC, said Macaraya.

If ever, Mayor Teves will be fighting two independent candidates for vice mayor: Councilor Juanito Condes and political neophyte Aldo Muñoz.  (FREEMAN)