San Jose de Buenavista, Antique — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Antique has officially received 53 certificates of candidacy (COCs) from individuals aiming to secure provincial and congressional positions in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
According to Philippines News Agency, Acting Assistant Regional Election Supervisor and concurrent Antique Provincial Election Supervisor IV Wil Arceño reported that the COCs were filed from October 1 to 8. The candidates include four for the lone district representative, seven for governor, three for vice governor, and 39 for provincial board members. “So far, the COC filing was generally peaceful,” Arceño stated in a Wednesday interview.
Issues were minimal, with COCs for municipal posts processed by local election officers. However, a notable incident occurred on the final day of filing; a municipal councilor aspirant in Belison caused a commotion when he arrived after the deadline, and his COC was not accepted by the municipal election officer.
In a strategic political maneuver, incumbent Vice Governor Edgar Denosta withdrew his initially filed COC on October 3, only to refile on October 8 for the gubernatorial seat under the Nacionalista Party, after receiving a new certificate of nomination and acceptance. Denosta’s party has formed an alliance with the National People’s Coalition (NPC).
Candidates for the representative seat include reelectionist Antonio Agapito Legarda of the NPC, incumbent Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao of the National Unity Party, Christopher Abiog of the Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma, and Remigio Petinglay as an independent candidate. The gubernatorial race sees Denosta facing off against Paolo Everardo Javier of Aksyon Demokratiko, filed on October 4, and other independent candidates: Jonathan Tan, Rodelo Pidoy, Rudy Bantolo, Vicente Fedelicio, and Gaspar Gayona.
For the vice governor position, the candidates are Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao under NPC, Genevive Lim-Reyes under the National Unity Party, and Edward James Dy Buco under the PDP Laban.