THREE CORNERED FIGHT IN BAGUIO’S CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

October 5, 2024 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY

Three cornered fight in Baguio’s congressional position in the upcoming midterm elections on May 2025. Former Congressman Nicasio Aliping, Jr. was on his onesome when he came to file his certificate of candidacy last Monday. No gimmick for the one time congressman as he filed it early, the very first, then left. Believing that it could be luck to file first, Aliping then left to have a breakfast buffet where he invited some media who he broke his fast with and tell stories.

On the third day of filing, last Thursday, Soledad Go will try to continue her husband’s “term” as she filed before the
Commission on Election – Baguio her CoC for the said polls. Go in white was joined by her team composed of councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda and former councilor Elain Sembrano, Joel Alangsab and Broadcaster Eddie Carta who were also dressed in white – pants and long sleeves. Her spouse, current Rep. Go, was slightly trailing her while
dancers in indigenous people attire beat on the gang and danced with the candidates before they entered the Baguio
Convention and Cultural Center.

Go’s biggest rival could be Gladys Vergara, the former Kabataang Barangay (Sangguiniang Kabataan) chair and number one councilor before becoming a vice mayor when faith healer turned politician Ramon Labo was ousted as
mayor for the second time in 1992. Vergara is expected to file her candidacy on Monday, said her chief of staff Ferdinand Balanag. Vergara has been a businesswoman since leaving politics in 1992 when her father, Bernardo, Sr. ran and won as congressman. Vergara had been touted as Go’s biggest rival in what some call as the “battle of supermoms”.

Councilor Peter Fianza seeks for his third term and came on his own Monday afternoon. The bulk of the administration bloc led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong filed their CoCs Saturday, a whole day fanfare that include a bikathon and rites at the Ibaloy Park earlier in the day. In Benguet, vice governor Ericson Felipe made good his
earlier declaration to challenge incumbent Rep. Eric Go Yap. Two former vice governors will join Felipe under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – Benguet flag as they seek the three highest positions.

Felipe, or Tagel, will have his predecessor Johnny Diwas Waguis and Nelson Dangwa vying for the congressman,
governor and vice governor positions to challenge Yap – (incumbent) Gov. Melchor Diclas and boardmember Rose
Fongwan – Kepes, in that order. PFP is the official party of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. who is the national Party chairman. In Tuba, former councilor Rabindranath Quilala seeks to return to his old post which he
vacated when he ran as board member on 1995.

The former Community Environment and Natural Resources for Northern Benguet and former Anti Red Tape Agency director Quilala filed his candidacy last October 1 and will run under the councilor Roger Kitma, who will seek to replace incumbent mayor Clarita Sal-ongan. In his post, Quilala said that he will run as an independent
“under the ‘Roger Kitma for Mayor Group’.” He said that he will run under the slogan’s “come back to give back for A better Tuba.’” The group will also have incumbent councilor Rebecca Yaris-Apil, retired Police Col. Samson Amistad, Geoffrey Palao-ay, incumbent Camp 3 Kagawad Jane Opad, and Macario Paus Jr.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN