BAGUIO CITY – Big names and veterans in the political arena continue to dominate the aspirants for the various elected positions in Baguio City and Benguet with the onset of the fling of their certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) from October 12-16.
In the city, the lone congressional post will be subjected to a 3-1ay toss up among incumbent Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) veteran and comebacking lawmaker Engr. Bernardo M. Vergara of the Timpuyog ti Baguio local coalition and businessman Mark G, who is still searching for a party affiliation. .
The city’s mayoralty post will be contested by incumbent Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan of the Timpuyog ti Baguio local coalition, lawyer Jose M. Molintas of a still undisclosed political party and retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Edilberto T. Claravall who will be running as an independent.
On the other hand, the city’s vice mayoralty post will be hotly contested by incumbent Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog, who has yet to have a political party affiliation, Isabelo Cosalan, Jr. of LP, three-term Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda of the Timpuyog ti Baguio local collation and three-term Councilor Fred Bagbagen.
The Aliping faction of the LPO will not be fielding any mayoralty candidate while the Go faction of the ruling administration party wants the national directorate to declare Baguio City as a free zone so that they will continue to be affiliated with the party.
In Benguet, the lone congressional post will be tightly fought between incumbent Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan of LP and three-term Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan of the National Unity Party (NUP).
For the gubernatorial post, it will be another three-way battle between incumbent Vice Governor Nelson Dangwa of LP, Buguias Mayor Melchor Diklas of NUP and incumbent boardmember and businessman Jack Dulnuan who will be running as an independent.
The province’s vice gubernatorial position will be contested by two females and a male aspirants. Former Atok three-term Mayor and three-term boardmember Concepcion Balao of NUP, boardmember Florence Tingbaoen of LP and three-term Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan, who will be also running as an independent, will try their luck for the position of presiding officer of the provincial board.
In the capital town of La Trinidad, incumbent Mayor Edna C. Tabanda of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will be challenged by incumbent Vice Mayor Romeo Salda of the NUP and former Mayor Gregorio T. Abalos, Jr. of LP.
By Dexter A. See