“Sure winners” in 2007 polls
They could very well be winners by default.
Without an opponent in the May 14 election, a good number of candidates for various positions around the province are already sure winners, including two for congressman, six for mayor, five for vice mayor and eight for councilor.
Leading the rank of the unopposed are Reps. Mark Cojuangco and Conrad Estrella III, of the fifth and sixth districts, respectively, both running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition,
The unopposed re-electionist mayors are Binalonan town Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. (Lakas), who is also the League of Municipalities of the Philippines president; Sto. Tomas Mayor Vivien Villar (NPC-Biskeg na Pangasinan), who is running unopposed for the fifth time; Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castañeda Jr (KAMPI-Biskeg), who together with his re-electionist Vice Mayor Orlando Bartolome, is making a record in the town’s political history for being the first unopposed mayor (and vice mayor); Mapandan Mayor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim (Lakas-Biskeg); and Bautista town Mayor Amado Espino III (NPC).
Among the new kids on the political block, first-time mayoralty aspirant Carmen “Kimi” Cojuangco (NPC), wife of fifth district Rep. Cojuangco, is running in Sison town and gets an easy rise to politics without any opposition. The Cojuangcos own the Northern Cement Corporation in Sison.
In Sto. Tomas, the complete local line-up under the NPC/Biskeg na Pangasinan banner is running unopposed. These include Timoteo “Dick” Villar III for vice mayor and for councilors are Marcelo Castañaga, Lita Judan, Lydia Manzano, June Noces, Gaudencio Ordoño, Wilfredo Pescador, Manuel Quitan and Donald Seismundo.
The two independent candidates for councilor have withdrawn their bids.
In Binalonan, Guico’s running mate, his son Ramon Guico III, who is a political neophyte, is also unopposed. Guico is the cousin of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whose mother, the late former First Lady Eva Macapagal, hailed from Binalonan. The Guicos are running under the administration’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
In Alcala town, re-electionist Vice Mayor Clemente Arboleda (NPC-Biskeg) is unopposed. Also in Anda town, re-electionist Vice Mayor Napoleon Celeste (KAMPI) has no opponent.—EVA
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