Dec.

12,2009
Fourty Five Candidates File CoCs
Effie Abiera Running Unopposed
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-As the deadline for the filing of Certificates of
Candidacies has drawn to a close on December 2, 2009 the lists of aspiring
candidates comprising the re-electionists in the province and in the capital city
has revealed that re-electionist Vice-Mayor Effie Lamoste Abiera is running
unopposed. She is the daughter of naturalist-artist Salvador “Boy” Abiera, the
undefeated third termer councilor who is also an architect by profession.
Early filers at the COMELEC provincial office were: first-Board Member aspirant
Gaspar V. Tagalo on Nov. 25,2009;second-re-electionist Congressman Roger G.
Mercado on Nov. 28,2009 and the third-Congressional aspirant Jeffrey J. Roden on
Nov. 30,2009.
A total of 45 candidates composing the re-electionists and newcomers in the
provincial and city positions have flocked to the 2 COMELEC offices here in
various hours of arrival since the filing of CoCs has started.
In the provincial level there are a total of 23 candidates. Four for the
provincial position of a representative including re-electionist Roger G. Mercado
(LAKAS).The 3 others are: Aniceto G. Saludo,Jr,(Puersa Ng Masang Pilipino);
Jeffrey J.Roden(Independent); Vicente A. Geraldo(Independent).
Three are running for the position of Governor including the re-electionist
Damian G. Mercado.1)Marisa Y. Lerias(National Peoples Coalition); 2)Jerome J.
Roden(Independent).
For Vice-Governor:1)re-electionist Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11(LAKAS);2)Reuel
V.Dumancas(Independent).
There are 6 re-electionists for SP members all from LAKAS and 9 newcomers for
the same position constituting various party affiliations like the LAKAS,
Independent, NPC and PMP.
Here in this new small city, LAKAS re-electionist, Mayor Maloney Samaco has an
opposition in the person of former third-termer Governor Rosette Yñiguez Lerias of
the National Peoples Coalition.
There are 8 re-electionists for the City Councilors and a newcomer Romeo R.
Geniston joining the LAKAS group.
However, there are 10 newcomers under the National Peoples Coalition vying for
the position of City Councilors. There are also 2 other Independent candidates
running for the same position.
In an interview with Election Officer 2 Lawrence Irman Gelsano he said that
submission of programs of government or their reforms or platforms of government
is not required from among the aspiring candidates who filled up their CoCs for
the coming May 10,2010 elections.
“Programs of government or reforms of each candidates running for any position
in the government is not required”, he said, “It’s up to them to formulate their
respective agenda or reforms during their campaign period”
Regarding the limitations of funds for expenditures during the election
campaign among the aspiring candidate he said there’s no resolution yet send by
the COMELEC Manila office.
Gelsano said that if they will receive a COMELEC resolution about the limiting
of funds for the campaign sorties they will inform all the qualified candidates.
He said resolution on the limitation of campaign funds will also be published
in several national newspapers, including the radio and TV stations before the
start of the campaign period.
The Election Officer further informed that the start for the campaign period
for the national elections is on Feb. 9 up to May 8, 2010. While for the local
elections is on March 26 up to May 8, 2010.
 Moreover, Provincial Assistant Election Officer Reuel Junio divulged that there
are a total of 247,598 voters (old and new) in the entire province of Southern
Leyte.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)