CLASH OF POLITICAL FAMILIES ALAMINOS City Mayor Arthur Celeste has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 11 for governor of Pangasinan in next year’s elections for a face-off with reelectionist Gov. Amado Espino III. Celeste, who is now in his second term as mayor, went to the Minor…

FATHER AND SON BANI— Gov. Amado Espino III squelched speculations that he and his father, Fifth District Rep. Amado Espino Jr., will switch places in the coming polls, and maintained that they will both seek re-election in their respective positions. In a talk with newsmen during the TESDA-IACT livelihood program…

THE veto of the “Anti-Backfilling Ordinance” passed by the Dagupan City Sangguniang Panlungsod received support and affirmation by various sectors including experts from the academe, professional groups and  the government sector. The ordinance was recently vetoed by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez. The expression of support was aired during the open…

POLITICIANS in Pangasinan, particularly in the 4th district, can relax as controversial ex-Presidential Operations Office Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux ‘Mocha” Uson, who vowed to run for Congress, is not a registered voter in Pangasinan or in Dagupan where she was born. The Comelec in Pangasinan has verified that her name…

THERE are three items that candidates and voters should know about the 2019, according to Provincial Elections Supervisor Marino Salas. First, substitution of candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy will be allowed till November 29 this year. Second, no one can be charged of premature campaigning, meaning campaign activities…

THE province of Pangasinan will pilot the state-of- the-art Voter Registration Verification System (VRVS), which verifies the name of the voter through the print of his forefinger, in addition to using the Voter Counting Machines (VCMs). Provincial Election Officer Marino Salas said only Pangasinan was chosen to pilot the VRVS machine…

AFTER 4 DECADES OF UNOPPOSED ELECTIONS STO. TOMAS — After four decades of no opposition to the Villars, a graduating councilor filed his certificate of candidacy on Oct. 11 to challenge the incumbent mayor in next year’s elections. Councilor Ely Ramos, who is on his final term, will challenge Mayor…

THE chance to transform the system of government from the present to a federal system is here and now or never, particularly under the Duterte presidency. This was stressed by members of the Constitutional Commission (Concom) who were in Dagupan City for the Media Forum, attended by media practitioners in…