UNLIKE in previous elections where there were unopposed aspirants and re-electionists, all electoral posts in the provincial level are being contested without exemption.

The records of Commission on Elections provincial office in Dagupan City show:

1. Re-electionist Gov. Amado Espino III is being challenged by Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste.
2. Espino’s vice-governor bet, former Board Member Angel Baniqued will have to square it off with Celeste’s Paterno Orduña, retired police superintendent
3. In the 1st Congressional District, former Department of Transportation Undersecretary Thomas Orbos will have to contend with opposition from Bolinao, Mayor Arnold Celeste whose brother Rep. Jesus Celeste is on his final term, and one Ernesto Rabago.
4. In the 2^nd Congressional District, it will be a toss between Board Member Raul Sison, Bugallon Mayor Jumel Espino and Roberto Merrera Jr. (Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil is on his last term filed his candidacy for mayor in his hometown Lingayen.
5. In the 3^rd Congressional District, re-electionist Rep. Rose Marie Arenas will be pitted against former Calasiao Mayor Celso de Vera and newsman Jaime Aquino. (Arenas was unopposed in her first time after she substituted her daughter’s supposed re-election in 2013).
6. In the 4^th Congressional District, re-electionist Rep. Christopher de Venecia, who ran unopposed in his first term in 2016 after he substituted for his mother, former Rep. Gina de Venecia, is being challenged by four other candidates, all from Dagupan City . His opponents are Teodoro Wilhelm Manaois, Redford Christian Erfe-Mejia who is graduating as Dagupan councilor, former Dagupan Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez and Larry Gryson de Venecia. All of De Venecia’s opponents are running as independent candidates except Larry Gryson who’s running under the NP banner.
7. In the 5^th Congressional District, re-electionist Rep. Amado Espino Jr. is seeing himself pitted against Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico III who is now on his third term as mayor.
8. In the 6^th Congressional District, Tayug Mayor Tyrone Agabas, husband of Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, will be in a one-on-one fight with Dr. Myrna Custodio.

The election of two board members in each district is no different:

1. In the First District, re-electionist Board Member Anthony Sison will be pitted against hopefuls Donabel Fontelera, Margelou Orange Humilde-Verzosa and Richard Camba.
2. In the Second District, re-electionist Nestor Reyes will be pitted against Maria Andrea Meneses, Haidee Soriano, Von Matk Mendoza and Arsenio Merrera.
3. In the Third District, re-electionist Board Member Angel Baniqued Jr. will be joined in the fight by Vice Ventanilla, Darwina Sampang, former Rep. Generoso Tulagan Sr. and newsman Eduardo Gonzales.
4. In the Fourth District, both re-electionists Liberato Villegas and Jeremy Rosario will have Ritchie Abalos joining the political fray.
5. In the Fifth District, re-electionist Rosary Chinky Tababa will seek to retain her post with Francis Tinio, Nicholi Jan Louie Sison and Onofre Gorospe contesting him.
6. In the sixth district, both re-electionists Noel Bince and Salvador Perez Jr. will be challenged by Nelson Palaris. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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