CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Former Governor Eduardo Nonato Joson was among the early birds to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the provincial election office here on Thursday, the first day of COC filing for the May 2019 polls.
Running for governor as independent, Joson’s candidacy was in defiance of his siblings’ support for two different candidates.
He resigned from the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) that was established by their late father, former Governor Eduardo Joson.
His eldest sibling, former Governor Tomas Joson, is supporting former General Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote for the gubernatorial post. His son, incumbent provincial board member Edward Thomas Joson, is Bote’s running mate.
Bote and the younger Joson also filed their COCs on Thursday morning.
Another sibling, Quezon town incumbent Mayor Mariano Cristino Joson, on the other hand, supports the Umalis.
It is not yet certain who between incumbent Governor Czarina Umali and her husband, former Governor Aurelio Umali, will run for governor in next year’s polls. (PNA)
