Negros Oriental: Degamo, Arnaiz to contest governorship

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Incumbent Governor Roel Degamo and Representative George Arnaiz (2nd district, Negros Oriental) led their respective partymates Thursday in the filing of their certificates of candidacy for their election bids in 2016.

Degamo, running under the Nationalist Unity Party/Partido NegOrense, and Arnaiz of the Nationalist People’s Coalition but in an alliance with the Liberal Party, will be pitted against each other in the gubernatorial race next year. So far, they are the only ones who have filed their COCs for the position of governor.

Degamo is now seeking re-election for his second term while Arnaiz is making a comeback for the position he held for three terms in the past before serving in Congress.

Arnaiz and his partymates were the first to file at 8 a.m. Thursday. With him were re-electionist Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias of LP, and Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria (NPC), who will be contesting the 2nd district congressional seat.

Their partymates running for seats in the Provincial Board were NPC’s Rommel Erames, Mariant Escaño-Villegas, Melliemoore Saycon and Nilo Sayson—all for the 2nd district, and Edmund Dy (NPC), Peve Ligan (NPC) and Nick Valde Lim (LP) for the 3rd district.

On hand to provide moral support for Arnaiz and his team were former 1st district Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong, incumbent PB Members Georgita Martinez and Jessica Jane Villanueva, and Guihulngan City Councilor Jaime Reyes, all LP members, who were also seeking election in 2016 but filed their COCs on Tuesday.

Completing the political lineup of the NPC-LP coalition in Negros Oriental was incumbent PB Member Arnulfo Teves, Jr., who filed his COC Wednesday afternoon for the position of 3rd district congressman.

Two hours after, Degamo and his team after hearing Mass at the Capitol, filed their COCs. The governor was accompanied by wife, Janice, who will be running for mayor of Pamplona town in Negros Oriental.

Joining Degamo were his running mate, Liland Estacion, former 1st district Representative Jacinto Paras who will be trying to regain his previous seat; PB Member Erwin Macias for the 2nd congressional district seat; and Dr. Henry Sojor for the 3rd congressional district post.

For PB members, Degamo’s slate were: Rizaldy Gumba (NUP), Reynaldo Tuanda, Jr. (NUP) and Napoleon Villegas (UNA) for the 1st district; NUP’s Nevino Cardente, Nichol Eman, Carmelo Remollo, and Arturo Umbac for the 2nd district; and NUP’s Kit Marc Adanza, Telesforo Diao Jr., and Enrique Gonzalez for the 3rd district.

Showing support to the Degamo camp was former 3rd district Representative Herminio Teves, the patriarch of the Teves clan and was, in his time, the oldest member of Congress until 2007.

Independent candi-dates who also filed their COCs were Virgilio Barba for PB member of the 2nd district, and Ryan Bustos Ybañez for congressman of the 2nd district.

A total of 37 political aspirants have so far filed their COCs with the Comelec provincial office for the positions of governor, vice governor, congressional representatives and PB members.

Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba said he expected more candidates to show up on Friday, the last day of the filing of COCs. (FREEMAN)