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2 mayoral aspirants file COCs in Zambo City

Two aspirants for city mayor and their respective party members have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) Friday for the 2022 national and local elections with limited fanfare amid the prevailing health pandemic.

Mayoral aspirants Celso Lobregat, former mayor and congressman of this city, and incumbent Vice Mayor Rommel Agan showed up at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, at the satellite registration and COC filing center in the east wing of the KCC Mall de Zamboanga.

Before proceeding to the center, Lobregat and his party members first attended an early morning mass at the Our Lady of the Pillar Shrine and then proceeded in front of the city hall for a photo session.

“Traditionally, we file our candidacy during the last day of filing of COC, but we have realized the situation has changed because of the pandemic and that coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the city are high,” said Lobregat, who is running under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino banner.

He even disclosed that one of the candidates for city councilor in his slate is currently in isolation for being a close contact of a Covid-19 patient, and was represented by a lawyer in COC filing activity.

Lobregat said his party, locally known as “Team Colorao” (Red Team), has incumbent 2nd District Councilor Benjamin Guingona IV as his running mate.

Without giving names, he said his party also has aspirants for the city’s two congressional districts.

Team Double-A

Meanwhile, Agan and his “Team Double-A” party, though not a complete slate, filed their COC under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) political banner.

Agan’s running mate is incumbent 1st District Councilor Elbert Atilano Sr.

Agan’s party has no candidate for congressmen, both in the 1st and 2nd District.

He noted that his party has three candidates in the 1st District, and another three in the 2nd District. Each district has eight seats for city councilors.

Lawyer John Christian Babiera, the 2nd District election officer, said they established a COC filing center at KCC Mall de Zamboanga after the Commission on Elections central office instructed them to scout for a spacious place favorable to the strict implementation of health protocols.

The local Comelec office is occupying a portion of the second floor at the east wing of the mall.

Source: Philippines News Agency