(File photo)
TUGUEGARAO CITY – It’s all in the family in Cagayan province as familiar names are either seeking reelection or swapping posts, collated official records from the Commission on Election regional office’s filed certificates of candidacy (COC) showed.
The Mambas, Vargases, and Antonios, famous political clans in Cagayan, are running for public office as per the data gathered by the Philippine News Agency.
Incumbent Governor Manuel Mamba, also a medical doctor, is seeking his third consecutive term, with his nephew, Francisco Mamba III, as his vice gubernatorial bet.
The governor’s brothers, William Mamba and Francisco Mamba Jr., are vying for mayor and vice mayor in Tuao town, their bailiwick.
Mamba’s lone rival for governor, fellow physician Zarah Lara of PDP-Laban, is also running with her husband, Representative Joseph Lara, who is eyeing a second consecutive term in the Third District.
For the Vargas family, Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr. is seeking reelection; his uncle, Manuel Vargas, is running for mayor against Raymond Maguisid in Abulug; and Manuel's son, Jesus Florencio Vargas, will be his running mate.
Manuel’s sister, Precy Vargas, will go up against Jesus Florencio.
The daughter of former governor Alvaro Antonio, Cristina Antonio, is seeking reelection as Alcala mayor while Alvaro’s second wife, Digna Puzon-Antonio, also wants to be reelected as Pamplona mayor anew.
Several husbands and wives filed for COC, too.
Mayor Harry Florida and Vice Mayor Yvonne Florida are going for reelection unopposed in Allacapan.
In Ballesteros town, Lakas-CMD’s Vincent Unite is likewise seeking reelection for mayor, along with his wife, Vice Mayor Violeta.
In Buguey, Cerry Antiporda is vying for mayor while his brother, three-term mayor Lloyd Antiporda, will slide to vice mayor.
In Camalaniugan town, Mayor Isidro Cabaddu ris teaming up with wife Angelica and so will reelectionists Ferdinand and Judith Trinidad in Iguig town.
In Lal-lo town, Florante Pascual (PDP-Laban) is seeking a return as mayor and his wife, Board Member Maria Olivia, will run for vice mayor.
Peñablanca’s Washington Taguinod (PDP-Laban) and wife Marilyn are vying for reelection as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Incumbent Representative Ramon Nolasco Jr. (NPC) is vying for reelection in the First District while his brother, Mayor Matthew Nolasco (NPC), is vying for vice mayor.
Representative Nolasco will slug it out with retired military general Roberto Damian (Nacionalista) and Katrina Ponce-Enrile (Lakas-CMD), daughter of former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile.
In Santa Praxedes, estranged siblings Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo and former mayor Danilo Aguinaldo will fight it out in the May 9, 2022 polls.
Joel and Brenda Ruma will vie for mayor and vice mayor, respectively; while Joel’s brother, Johnas, and cousin Bryan, are eyeing council seats, all under PDP-Laban.
Mayor Jennalyn Carag and Vice Mayor Meynard Carag are seeking reelection in Solana; and Mayor Vicente Pagurayan (PDP-Laban) in Santo Niño, with his son, Andrew Vincent, as vice mayor.
In Tuguegarao City, Mayor Jefferson Soriano is seeking a fourth consecutive term, claiming interruption of service when he was dismissed for grave abuse of discretion in 2014.
His daughter, professional volleyball player Charo, is running for councilor.
In Calayan island-town, Mayor Joseph Llopis and Vice Mayor Edmund Escalante, Lasam’s vice mayoral bet Randy Cambe of Lakas-CMD, and retired police general Rodrigo De Gracia (for Santa Teresita mayor) will all run unopposed. (PNA)
