3 vie for Catanduanes gubernatorial post

By Mar S. Arguelles

There will be a three-cornered fight for the gubernatorial post in Catanduanes. The contenders are incumbent Gov. Joseph Cua, Vice Gov. Shirley Abundo, and Randy Tanael.

Cua who is running for reelection and in his last term is running under the banner of the Nationalist People Coalition (NPC) while his challengers Abundo, belongs to the Aksyon Demokratiko Party, and Tanael registered as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, for the province’s lone congressional seat, it will be a four-cornered battle among incumbent Catanduanes Rep. Hector Sanchez of the Lakas-CMD gunning for his third and last term, ex-Congressman Cesar Sarmiento of the National Unity Party (NUP), ex-Bato Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez, and lawyer Oliver Rodulfo of the Liberal Party.

The Commission on Election (Comelec) in Catanduanes said 32 individuals filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for various provincial posts such as governor, vice governor, congressman, and provincial board member.

Two media personalities, Fredeswindo Gianan, publisher and editor of a local paper, and Jinky Tabor, a correspondent of a national broadsheet and TV network, are among the candidates running for the provincial board.