Nine candidates in Bohol withdraw COCs, replaced

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – At least nine candidates beat the deadline for the withdrawal of their candidacies from the 2016 elections and were subsequently substituted by their respective partymates on Thursday last week.

Records of the Comelec-Bohol provincial office showed that among those who backed out was Cecilia Dacquio, a Liberal Party candidate for vice mayor in Corella town, and was substituted by Rex Romani Tocmo.

In Clarin town, two LP candidates under reelectionist mayoralty candidate Allen Ray Piezas withdrew their COCs for councilor. They were Carlo Ombajin and Francis Manalo, who were replaced by Nelson Bonajos and Silvestre Sanchez, respectively.

In Baclayon, Nationalista Party’s Laurence Angelo Sanchez was substituted by Nenito Sanchez.

In Dauis, an LP candidate for councilor, Melchor Honculada, backed out and replaced by Vieto Racho, while another independent bet for councilor, Joaquin Adayo, also withdrew his COC.

In Bilar, Marcel Carinal Fuertes of the LP withdrew his candidacy for councilor and substituted by Marinel Fuertes Real.

For the Bohol Provincial Board member of the first district, Dante Salva of PDP-Laban Party was substituted by Donald Sevilla, and in the PB third district, Porferio Datoy was replaced by Nathaniel Binlod, also of the PDP Laban.

In Tagbilaran City, the Comelec said there was no candidate who withdrew the COC, refuting earlier reports that Poblacion 1 Barangay Chairperson Arlene Karaan was backing out of the mayoralty race and would be replaced by former city mayor Dan Lim.

For the governorship, Loay town Mayor Mae Imboy is still challenging former political ally, reelectionist Governor Edgar Chatto. (FREEMAN)