Lipa City political aspirants comprising three candidates for mayor, three for vice-mayor, and 36 for councilor have proclaimed their bid for the 2022 election polls as they filed their Certificate of Candidacies (COC) in the Lipa Commission on Elections (Comelec) last Oct. 1-8.
Another term for Bagong Lipa
Mayor Eric Africa and his running mate Vice Mayor MakMak Luancing first announced their plans to seek re-election last Oct. 5; they were joined by Sen. Ralph Recto, who also filed his candidacy for congressman in the lone district of Lipa.
The party initially presented their slate of councilors which included incumbent councilors Atty. Gally Angeles, Oscar “Jun-jun” Gozos II, Mikee Morada, Avior “Tagumpay” Rocafort, Venice Manalo, Rioffer Nicole Ronquillo, Jennifer Spye Toledo, and Ralph Peter “King” Umali.
Former councilors Aries Macala and Merlo Silva, Mike Lina III, and city administrator Percival Lojo also joined the line-up.
During their proclamation rally, Team Bagong Lipa, led by the Africa-Luancing tandem, immediately expressed their plans to maintain the existing administration’s livelihood programs, local financial assistance, and free housing.
“Tayo’y patuloy na magkaisa, magsama-sama, dahil iyan ang tanging paraan upang tuluyang makabangon ang Lungsod ng Lipa,” Africa said.
All of the members of Team Bagong Lipa are running under the country’s oldest political party, Nacionalista Party.
New brand of service
Meanwhile, another mayoral aspirant Nestor Sanares, a retired general, also filed his COC together with his running mate and incumbent councilor, Camille Lopez, last Oct. 4
Councilors running under their party include Earl Maranan-Camacho, Ed “Tulpo” Villanueva and Erick “Mr. Extramile” Maullion, all of which are from the Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma Party, chaired by presidential aspirant and incumbent senator, Panfilo Lacson.
Senares’ personal initiative includes Project Mata-Linaw, an aid program that provides senior citizens and persons with disabilities, with reading glasses, grocery packs, and vitamins, which he plans to continue once elected.
Return of blue movement
Last to formally file and announce their bid for the local polls last Oct. 7., former mayor Meynard Sabili is seeking a return together with vice mayoral aspirant and former councilor, Nonato “Patmon” Monfero.
Team Sabili-Monfero’s councilor slate includes Sabili’s son, Atty. Francis Meynard Sabili, incumbent councilor Beverly Luancing, Atty. Reginald Laco, Atty. Ed Catibayan, Pol Joseph Garing, Drolah Sanchez, Daryl Go, Hazel Katigbak-Quinto, RB Lalong-isip, Elmer Reyes, Carlo Latayan, and Aiko Mission Hernandez.
The candidates from under the slate of Sabili are all running under Partido ng Masang Lipeño (PML).
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Moreover, independent candidates who also filed their COCs for city councilors were Gerry America, Carlos Barde, Ramir Bathan, Mateo Avegel “Abe” Leynes, Jomar Ong, Atty. Mar Panganiban, Karlo Noel Ramos, and Glenn Yabut.
Mario “3M” Medina, who also seeks a post in the councilor position, is running under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
The official list of candidates was obtained by Comelec Lipa last Oct. 8. Meanwhile, as per Comelec resolution no. 10717, withdrawal and substitution of candidacy is still possible and will only be entertained until Nov. 15.
They view it to exist as something that clearly isnt of any importance to what we are talking about. Some think it as just plain odd to allow such thing to happen alas they do anyway and without any consent but thats just the way it is.