At the conclusion of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing in Benguet province, 34 candidates submitted their COCs.
In the final Commission on Elections (COMELEC) list, five names will contest the position of Congressman.
They are Incumbent Vice Governor Ericson ‘Tagel’ Felipe, Juanito II ‘Bok’ Siddayao, Jerome Wakat, Adam Yap, and Incumbent Congressman Eric Go Yap.
Meanwhile, four candidates will compete for the position of Governor.
These are Incumbent Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, George Mendoza Punasen, former Benguet Vice Governor Johnny Waguis, and Incumbent 1st District Board Member Ruben Poad.
Four candidates will also vie for the position of Vice Governor, including Incumbent Benguet 2nd District Board Member Fernando Mariano Balaodan, Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes, former Benguet Vice Governor Nelson Dangwa, and Samson Paran.
From the initial nine candidates running for Board Member in the first district of the province, this number grew to 10 after Thomas Wales filed his COC.
Meanwhile, the list of Board Member candidates in the second district remained unchanged with 11 candidates by the end of the COC filing.
“No one has yet manifested a change in position, but for now, you can still withdraw,” said Attorney Elenita Capuyan Tabangin, COMELEC Provincial Supervisor.
In the upcoming election, various candidates will once again campaign.
However, amidst the political noise and different colors of politics, some residents of Benguet have particular requests they hope candidates will focus on.
On October 11, the COMELEC Provincial Office will start processing the Certificates of Candidacy submitted by the candidates for further scrutiny.
**VANESSA BUGTONG