REP. Paz Radaza will not seek a fresh term in Congress. Instead, she will run for mayor again in Lapu-Lapu City.
Leading her Team Deretso, she filed Wednesday, Oct. 6, her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor.
She said she would like to continue the programs and projects she initiated when she was mayor of Lapu-Lapu from 2010 to 2019.
She will fight Junard Chan, who is seeking a second term, for the mayorship.
In the 2022 elections, Radaza has Councilor Ricardo Amores as runningmate.
Team Deretso is fielding incumbent Councilor Michael Dignor for Congress, to replace Radaza.
The 12-member Council slate of Team Deretso has incumbent Councilors Gregorio Paquibot, Flaviano Hiyas, Rex Mangubat, Alexander Gestopa, and Rodolfo Potot; newbies Antonio Amistad, Elias Berdin, Cipriano Flores, Diosminda Hayashi, Eduardo Patalinjug, Arsilito Pejo, and Harry Don Radaza.
Not early campaigning
Meanwhile, Radaza defended her distributing food and other basic goods to Lapu-Lapu residents and holding a raffle through social media.
She said she bought the goods from her personal funds and did not violate the election law against early campaigning.
Campaign period for local seats starts on March 25, 2022 and ends on May 7, 2022.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has done away with the prohibition on early campaigning following the Supreme Court ruling that only when the campaign period starts can those who filed thier COCs be considered candidates.
In Cebu Province…
Celestino Martinez III is running for a House seat representing Cebu’s fourth district, under the Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago (PPP).
He is the current president of the Association of Barangay Councils Cebu Federation and the barangay captain of Cayang, Bogo City.
He is anchoring his campaign on livelihood for those affected by the pandemic, and investment in education and information technology.
Jose Mari Salvador is seeking a third term in the Provincial Board representing Cebu’s second district, under the National Unity Party (NUP) and One Cebu.
A nurse, Salvador promised to improve hospital services in the second district.
Rep. Peter John Calderon will seek a fresh term in Congress, representing Cebu’s second district, and under NUP and One Cebu.
Calderon’s twin brother Raymond Joseph Calderon, a former mayor of Samboan town, is seeking one of the two seats in the Provincial Board representing the second district.
Jerome Librando is seeking a fresh term in the PB, under NUP and One Cebu like the Calderons.
Jose Brainard Mayol and Nelson Mondigo filed their COCs for the two PB seats representing the fourth district.
Businesswoman Maria Alva Sanchez has filed her COC for mayor of Consolacion under PPP.
Salvador Cariaga, a farmer who owns Aracal Nature Farms in Bogo City, will vie for the fourth district’s House seat along with Martinez and Rep. Janice Salimbangon, who is seeking a fresh term.
“We need leaders that are incorruptible. I have no money, I have no machinery. Today is the first time I have actually talked about politics and I believe that even if I dont win I can be a part of conversation on how to address what our country needs. It needs men of principle, it needs men of character,” Cariaga said. (GCM, ANV)