BAGUIO CITY– The first day of filing of candidacy on Monday, October 12, in this City and the province Benguet was orderly and relatively quiet.
City election officer, Lawyer John Paul Martin, said the first day of filing COCs went without incident, just delay in the checking of paper and documents of the candidates.
First to file their COCs were the Liberal Party A-1 Team/Baguio Democratic Alliance candidates. Together with hundreds of their supporters, they flocked the COMELEC office at 8:00AM.
Incumbent Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr., chairman of the Baguio Liberal Party, is seeking for re-election for his second term in office.
He was joined by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan who will run as vice mayor, and seven of their eight aspiring councilors.
Engineer Rudy Aspilan also filed his COC for the Lone Representative of Baguio, while former Guisad Surong punong barangay Ferdy Bayasen filed his COC for city councilor as independent candidate.
In Benguet, Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Elenita Tabangin Capuyan said that they expected a surge of aspiring candidates in the first day of COC filing but only few did.
Former Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles is the first to file his COC at around 8:00AM. He is an independent candidate seeking the gubernatorial post for the province.
The LP Benguet team also filed their COCs – Incumbent Board Member Florence Tingbaoen for vice governor, and for the provincial board, former vice governor Wasing Sacla, incumbent board member Jim Botiwey, and radio personality Fernando Balaodan.
Several minutes before 5:00PM, Benguet Cong. Ronald Cosalan filed his COC as he seeks re-election for his third and last term. Cosalan, who is the chair of the Benguet LP, said that although their candidates filed their COCs separately, their team is one and united to pursue their political positions.
Other Board Member aspirants who filed their COCs are incumbent Tublay Mayor Ruben Paoad, former Board Member Juan Nazarro and farmer Loreto Buyaen.
The COC filing is relatively peaceful until the October 16 5:00 PM deadline with the parties filling their slates./Redjie Cawis BAGUIO/(JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
