After seven days, today, October 8, is the last day for candidates to file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections.
Among those who rushed to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Benguet Provincial Office was Itogon incumbent councilor Lison Latawen Jr., who is running for the position of councilor in the 1st District of Benguet.
Incumbent 1st District Board Member Ruben Poad is running for governor of the province.
As of noon on October 8, the latest COMELEC Benguet data shows the increase number of the candidates that have submitted their candidacy.
Four are running for governor: incumbent Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, George Mendoza Punasen, former Benguet Vice Governor Johnny Waguis, and incumbent 1st District Board Member Ruben Poad.
Three candidates are running for vice governor: incumbent Benguet 2nd District Board Member Fernando Mariano Balaodan, Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes, and former Benguet Vice Governor Nelson Dangwa.
Five candidates will compete for the congressional seat, namely incumbent Vice Governor Ericson Felipe, incumbent Congressman Eric Yap, Jerome Wakat, Adam Boteng Yap, and Juanito II Akao Siddayao.
After the COC filing, the received COCs will be submitted to the COMELEC Central Office.
COMELEC reminds the public that this is not yet the final list of candidates, as it will still undergo a vetting process where COMELEC will assess if a candidate is qualified to run or declared a nuisance candidate.
**VANESSA BUGTONG