Talks went wild that former chairman Felicito Payumo of the Bases Conversion Development Authority will substitute for Engr. Jason Garcia who filed last October his Certificate of Candidacy for congressman of Bataan’s first district.
Many held their breath as Payumo arrived at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections here a few minutes before 5 p.m. while Engr. Garcia was filing his withdrawal of candidacy.
Observers were expecting that Hermosa town Mayor Danilo Malana who filed his COC for congressman last October will also withdraw to give way to Payumo, a close ally. But they were wrong.
The former BCDA chair and three-term Bataan congressman did not file his COC but instead announced full support to the candidacy as congressman in the first district of Malana. “We are supporting Dan Malana for a good cause,” Payumo said, raising the hands of the candidate.
Malana thanked Payumo whom he considered as a good person for the position.
This leaves Malana and Geraldine Roman, transgender daughter of outgoing Rep. Herminia Roman, vying for the congressional post in the first district.
In Pilar, Bataan, also in the last minutes, Lady Caguimbal withdrew her candidacy as vice-mayor and gave way to husband Marino Caguimbal.
Cecilia Garcia filed her CoC as substitute to her father, Emmanuel Garcia who withdrew his candidacy as Pilar town councilor.
Earlier, former Partylist Rep. Bethe Santos of the Veterans Freedom Party substituted for her son Eduardo Santos who filed his CoC for mayor of Pilar last October. The son this time filed his CoC for vice-mayor.
Bethe will face re-electionist Mayor Alice Pizarro.
In Dinalupihan town, former provincial Board Member Lucy Payumo withdrew her candidacy for mayor. She was replaced by former town administrator Fernando Manalili. He will be pitied against incumbent Mayor Gila Garcia.
Jopet Inton replaced former Councilor Lou Narciso for mayor of Hermosa, Bataan. Inton will be fighting former provincial Board Member Efren Cruz for the mayorship.
