It’s Espinos vs. Cojuangcos
2016 PROVINCIAL ELECTION
IT’S official! It’s a son and father vs. husband and wife for the gubernatorial and fifth district congressional races in Pangasinan: the Espinos versus the Cojuangcos in the 2016 elections.
But it will still be a four-cornered fight for both the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial races for the 2016 elections if the Commission on Election does not declare the four late filers as nuisance candidates.
Those who filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor are former three-term congressman Mark Cojuangco (Nationalist People’s Coalition-Biskeg na Pangasinan), Liga ng mga Barangay provincial president Amado Espino III (Aksyon Demokratiko), Teozaldy Salvador, an accountant (independent candidate) and newsman Virgilio Maganes of the National Unity Party.
For vice governor, it will also be a four-cornered fight among reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr, who is Espino’s running mate, Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay who is the tandem of Cojuangco, Myrna Torralba, a businesswoman and an independent candidate and Susana Costales, running mate of Maganes.
Amado Espino III, son and namesake of the governor who is on his last term and president of Liga ng Barangay provincial federation, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) Tuesday 8:00 a.m. at the Commission on Elections provincial office.
Two hours later, former three-term congressman Mark Cojuangco, son of former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. filed his candidacy for governor at around 10:00 a.m.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. also filed his congressional bid for Pangasinan Fifth District against reelectionist Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, wife of Mark Cojuangco, who is seeking her third term.
Mr. Espino’s running mate is reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr who is aspiring for his third term while Cojuangco’s tandem is Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay.
The Espinos and Calimlim are running under Aksyon Demokratiko while the Cojuangcos and Macanlalay are under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) founded by the Cojuangco patriarch and Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan).
Messrs. Espino and Calimlim earlier filed their respective candidacies under NUP but later changed their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) with Aksyon Demokratiko around 3:00 p.m. Friday.
Had Messrs. Espino and Calimlim not changed their party nomination, they and Maganes’ teammates would have become independent candidates for having the same party for one or similar elective position.
Maganes, columnist and reporter of the local paper Northern Watch and commentator of block time programs aired over dwPR and dzRD, said he was invited by NUP to be its official candidate.
Biskeg is so far the only Commission on Elections (Comelec)-accredited provincial party in the province founded by Sec. Antonio Villar Jr of the Dangerous Drugs Board, who turned-over the party’s chairmanship this year to the young Cojuangco.
Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil who is seeking his third term, joined the Espino team under the Liberal Party.
The young Espino, nicknamed Pogi, said his candidacy now entails bigger obligation because the province is big.
“Actually, of course there is little apprehension (but) very confident,” he told local reporters about his feelings.
Mr. Cojuangco, for his part, said he is overwhelmed by the tremendous support he is getting from the people and local officials from different towns and cities across Pangasinan who joined him when he filed his COC.
“It makes me happy and hopeful,” he said.
He said he has the open support of 35 incumbent mayors out of the 44 municipal and 43 mayors and three congressmen in Pangasinan.
Asked about the elder Espino’s bid for Congress against his wife, Cojuangco said, “Democracy is a contest of ideas. The more ideas, the more choices the people have.”
He said he welcomes the contest and hopes their ideals will prevail.
For his part, Gov. Espino said he is confident the Fifth District is ready for a change in political leadership.
Meanwhile, Ms. Cojuangco said she felt hurt with Espino fighting her in Congress, saying she defended him vigorously against his opponent in the last gubernatorial race.
The Espinos and the Cojuangcos were allies until Mark announced his gubernatorial intention in February last year that led the Espinos to bolt from the NPC.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said they are running under the banner of Partido na Pangasinan which he founded two weeks ago.
Bataoil said the group is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not been accredited by Comelec-accredited. (Tita Roces)
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