Substitution of candidates Guv’s wife, solon’s bro among buzzer beaters

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines --- The buzzer on the last day of substitution of candidates brought surprises from newcomers in two towns of Bohol.

The governor's wife, Pureza Chatto, showed up at the Comelec office in Balilihan town last Friday to file her candidacy as replacement of Marianne Chatto--the runningmate of her cousin-in-law, reelectionist Mayor Dominicio Chatto under Liberal Party.

The Chatto-Chatto tandem in Balilihan would be clashing against Mark Leo Monton for mayor and Salvio Madanguit for vice mayor, both of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Another buzzer beater was EM Peter Relampagos, brother and chief of staff of 1st district Rep. Rene Relampagos, as replacement of Councilor Ignacio Castil Jr. for vice mayor in tandem with his cousin, reelectionist Mayor Lloyd Lopez in Loon town.

Castil was advised by his doctors to rest after suffering stroke recently.

The Lopez-Relampagos team would be running against UNA’s Ana Lisa Orcullo-Go for mayor and former councilor Titus Clark Miranda for vice mayor. The other candidate for vice mayor is former mayor Wilfredo Caresosa.

Assistant Provincial Election Officer Malou Cempron yesterday confirmed that the third town that submitted a report of withdrawing candidates and substitution as of yesterday was Carmen.

In this town, independent mayoralty candidate, Francisco Sarona delos Reyes, had withdrawn, leaving the mayoralty race between Ricardo Francisco Toribio (UNA) and former mayor Manuel Molina (LP).

The vice mayoralty race would be between reelectionist Pedro Budiongan (UNA) and former councilor Arlene Palgan (LP).

For the Municipal Council seats, reelectionist Councilor Danilo Palgan (UNA)—husband of LP’s vice-mayoralty bet--replaces Victor Tesio Sr., while LP’s Ferdinand Lapiz withdrew and was replaced by former town councilor Nathaniel Binlod.

Cempron said that, as of yesterday, only three municipalities had submitted changes in candidates lists, so far.

For the Provincial Board seats in the 3rd district, UNA candidates Antidio Chatto and Alejandro Lomod withdrew on December 19 yet, but with only one replacement--Floyd Errol Toribio-Ordonez, son of Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio delos Reyes-- who also filed candidacy on the same day.

In the 1st district, NPC’s Pedro Torralba (NPC) has been substituted by Ronson Tumaliwan last December 21.

For the top provincial posts, Governor Edgardo Chatto (LP) is challenged by Carmen Mayor Delos Reyes (UNA), Roberto “Amay Bisaya” Reyes (KBL) and Wenceslao Garcia (independent); while Vice Governor Concepction Lim is challenged by Dr. Sharleen Corral-Lim (NPC), and Brig. Gen. Joseph Sevilla (independent).

The Comelec said no substitution of candidates would be accommodated after last Friday’s deadline, but any candidate can still back out later without any replacement. “Comelec only accepts substitutions if a candidate either dies or has been disqualified to participate in the balloting,” it says.

Cempron said that, as of the last hearing on November 19, Bohol had a total of 775,785 registered voters for the May 2013 elections, showing a considerable increase from the 732,696 registered voters in May 2010 elections. As of the barangay elections in 2010, there were only 718,324 registered voters. (FREEMAN)