Kulit vs Danny for gov race topbills Quezon prov’l bets in 2019 polls

(Left)Quezon 2nd Dist. Rep. Vicente Alcala. Outgoing 3rd Dist. (Right) Rep. Danilo Suarez with wife, Aleta who files COC to reclaim her ol...

(Left)Quezon 2nd Dist. Rep. Vicente Alcala. Outgoing 3rd Dist. (Right) Rep. Danilo Suarez with wife, Aleta who files COC to reclaim her old congress post.

by John A. Bello

LUCENA CITY – Provincial candidates in Quezon province, from governor, vice governor, congressman, and board members went on separate days to the local election office at the new city government complex here to file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) from Oct. 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17 to beat the deadline.

Vying for the gubernatorial post for the May 13, 2019 elections are 2nd district Rep. Vicente ‘Kulit’ Alcala (PDP-Laban), former Lucban mayor Serafin Dator (Independent), 3rd district Rep. Danilo Suarez (Lakas-CMD), Frumencio ‘Sonny’ Pulgar (Malayang Mamamayan ng Quezon), Fatima Abuy (Partido Federalista ng Pilipinas), Dominador ‘Ding’ Villena and Rey Rosales.

Alcala, who is the first to file his COC for governor on Monday, Oct. 15 was followed by Dator on Wed. and by Suarez, Pulgar, Abuy, Villena and Rosales on Thursday, last day of the COC filing as mandated by the Commission on Elections.

Alcala was accompanied by his sister, Siony and daughters Annalou and Vinnette along with Sariaya mayor Marcelo Gayeta and vice mayor Alex Tolentino and other political supporters; Suarez came past 2pm and was with his wife, Aleta, and children, Gov. David ‘Jayjay’ Suarez, 3rd district board member Donaldo ‘Jet’ Suarez, Unisan vice mayor Danilo ‘Junjun’ Suarez and several of the governor’s provincial government officials and employees which included provincial administrator Rommel Edano and chief of Staff Webster Letargo, among others.

Pulgar did not come personally to file his COC and just let his staff, Jomil, to do it for him; while Abuy came with ex-governor Eddie Rodriguez along with several members of the PFP; Villena and Rosales filed their COCs accompanied by a few associates.

Running for the 2nd highest provincial position are Teodoro Capena (Independent), reelectionist vice governor Samuel Nantes (Nacionalista Party), Geoffrey Lou Estacio (PDDS), Jaypee Rivera, Shirley Sadia (Aksiyon Demokratiko) and Mario Medina (LP).

Nantes was accompanied to the Comelec provincial office by his mother, Betty, and wife, Marie Asensi; while the rest were joined by their family, friends and supporters.

Suarez and Nantes have teamed up for the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial race while Alcala, Pulgar, Dator, Abuy, Villena and Rosales have no vice gubernatorial mates as of the filing of their COCs.

For 1st dist. Congressional race, reelectionist Anna Katrina Enverga (NPC) is faced with an unknown opponent named Ramil Mensalve; for 2nd dist., former agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala contends with Kneigoutina ‘Tinton’ Suarez, Rosauro ‘Boyet’ Masilang and Christian Maano Seneres; for 3rd dist., former 3rd district Rep. Aleta Suarez (Lakas-CMD) is being challenged by Rodolfo Aguirre and Ronaldo de Luna; and in the 4th dist., reelectionist Angelina ‘Helen’ Tan (NPC) faces Malvin Malite (Aksiyon Demokratiko).

For board members, 1st dist. Reelectionists Claro Talaga Jr. and Aileen Buan are facing the political comeback of former board members Alona Obispo and Techie Dator; in 2nd dist., Hermilando Alcala Jr. and Elizabeth Sio are up against the challenge of city councilor Boyet Alejandrino, ex-board member Romano Talaga, Yna Liwanag and Michael Tanada; in the 3rd dist., Tony Avila, Reynan Arrogancia are contesting the reelectionist Donaldo ‘Jet’ Suarez; and in the 4th dist., reelectionist Sonny Ubana, Rhodora Tan and Rachel Mendoza are joined by former board member Derrick Magbuhos.

It was learned from Roberto Lozano, election assistant II and receiving officer at the provincial election office here, that as of Jan. 2018 there are a total of 1,192,000 barangay registered voters in Quezon province with 2nd district topping other congressional district with 393,323 registered voters; 1st dist. with 298,214; 4th dist., with 254,659; and 3rd dist. with 245,804.