As expected, next year’s gubernatorial election in Negros Oriental will be a fight of three strong candidates.
Former Finance Secretary Gary Teves (NPC) and Rep. Josy Limkaichong (LP) are contesting the post of reelectionist Gov. Roel Degamo (PDP-Laban).
A fourth figure is independent candidate Samuel Torres.
For vice governor, incumbent Apolinario Arnaiz, Jr. (NPC), is being challenged by Edward Mark Macias (LP) and Henry Sojor (PDP-Laban).
Likewise, the congressional posts in the three districts of the Province is turning out to be a duel between the NPC and the LP.
The First District will see former Rep. Jerome Paras (NPC) running against Manuel Iway (LP) and two independent candidates–Lowell Andaya and Danilo Roble.
The Second District will see Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva (LP) run against incumbent Congressman George Arnaiz (NPC) and independent candidate Raul Aninon.
The Third District has no independent candidates and will be a one-on-one between former Zamboanguita Mayor and Board Member Marcelo Adanza (LP) and reelectionist Rep. Pryde Henry Teves (NPC).
The political merry-go-round in the City of Dumaguete is seeing a one-on-one fight for the top elective posts as Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova (LP) takes on Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria (NPC) who is running for a second term. The vice-mayoralty race will also be a match between Dumaguete City Councilor Joe Kenneth Arbas (LP), a political first-termer, and former four-time vice mayor Woodrow Maquiling (NPC).
Cordova is running for mayor under the LP despite his winning as an independent candidate in the vice mayoralty race in 2010. Maquiling, on the other hand, was the LP mayoralty candidate in 2010 against Sagarbarria. He lost by only 51 votes. He initially contested Sagarbarria’s victory but later withdrew on the pledge that he would be Sagarbarria’s running mate in 2013.
The NPC is fielding only nine candidates for the City Council while the LP is fielding 10. There are four independent council candidates.
The NPC lineup is composed of Peter Catan, Saleto Erames, Franklin Esmena, Jr., Jose Victor Imbo, Dan Teves Leon, Joel Obar, Manuel Patrimonio, Lilani Ramon and Nilo Sayson.
The LP lineup, on the other hand, is composed of Manuel Arbon, Michael Bandal, Randolph Bandiola, Cherry Mae Belen, Rey Dennis Caballero, Antonio Carino, Samuel Dicen, Edilberto Macapanas, Antonio Remollo and Analou Suan.
The independent candidates for Dumaguete City Councilor are Albert Aquino, William Aranas, Felix Dicen and Jose Victor Teves.
