Who are running for the congressional seat?
Undecided in the past, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) General Leopoldo Bataoil filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the provincial election office Tuesday morning.
He’s running for representative at the second district of Pangasinan.
Among those who have filed their COCs for the same position were Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani (wife of second district Representative Victor Aguedo Agbayani who’s running for governor); and Maria Blanca Kim Lokin, a former Cibac party-list congresswoman.
Bataoil is on the provincial political party Biskeg na Pangasinan. Agbayani is campaigning under the Liberal Party (LP), while Lokin is on the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
“The signs came in time. My wife and children rendered their approval. We’ll make up for low funds with greater funds. God’s greater plan prevails,” Bataoil said in a text message.
But there are rumors that Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani has back out in the congressional slate and give way to Arthel Caronongan who is from Libsong in Lingayen. If I’m not mistaken Arthel Caronongan took the chance in the last 2004 election and run as a Board Member in the 2nd District of Pangasinan but loss in the said slate.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Arturo Lomibao will not run for the fourth district congressional seat.
Although he never categorically said from the very start until his last interview several days ago that he will run for congressman, Lomibao issued a press statement Tuesday afternoon that he have decided not to run as congressman.
“They say that courage is not only having the will to fight but also the will to step back if need be. As the Prayer of Serenity imparts … God, grant me the serenity to accept the things which I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” he stated.
To his supporters and leaders at the fourth district, he asked for their understanding.
“This is a painful decision to make, knowing how tirelessly you worked for me, how unselfishly you sacrificed your time, effort and resources, and how steadfastly you believed in me, unmindful of my final decision. I know you were determined to stay with me until the day of the election, hoping that together, we will march onward to victory,” Lomibao said.
Meanwhile, at the press conference held after his filing of COC, the media practitioners here met Victor Agbayani far different from the soft-spoken Victor who served as governor for nine years.
“I was leaving a very peaceful and constructive life in Congress dahil ako ay ipinagpala na mapasama sa Committee on Rules. If you are a member of the said committee, you are assistant majority leader, one week every month I am the majority leader sa plenary session; that aside from me holding different committees,” Victor said.
“Kailangan naman may alternative dito sa Pangasinan. Hindi puwede na pagdating ng araw ng election, iisa ang pangalan na andon, na kahit ayaw mo siya, nanalo siya,” he reasoned.
Agbayani and vice gubernatorial running mate former vice governor Oscar Lambino are with the Liberal Party. They will be challenging Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Mapandan Mayor Jose Ferdianand Calimlim Jr. (for vice governor) of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Biskeg na Pangasinan.