TACLOBAN CITY: Sixty local candidates in Eastern Visayas are running unopposed in the 2025 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Tuesday. Of the number, two are seeking congressional seats, one is running for governor, two are vice gubernatorial aspirants, 26 are eyeing mayoralty posts, and 29 are aspiring vice mayors.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer Corazon Montallana, Comelec-8 (Eastern Visayas) Assistant Director, stated that several local posts are uncontested possibly because the people are satisfied with government services in their areas. Montallana explained that the populace might find it beneficial for local leaders to run unopposed to ensure continuity in service delivery. However, she emphasized that having opposing candidates is healthy for democratic choices.
Among the six provincial governors in the region, Sharee Ann Tan of Samar is unopposed, along with her brothers, Rep. Stephen James Tan (Samar 1st District) and Rep. Michael Reymolds Tan (Samar 2nd Dis
trict). For provincial vice governor posts, Leonardo Javier (Leyte) and Roselyn Espina-Paras (Biliran) are assured of victory.
Unopposed mayoralty candidates are noted in the towns of Hindang, Alangalang, Matalom, Tunga, and Mayorga in Leyte province; Culaba, Maripipi, Biliran, Caibiran, and Kawayan in Biliran; and several towns in Samar Island, including Maslog in Eastern Samar and Bobon, Capul, Las Navas, San Antonio, San Isidro, and San Vicente in Northern Samar.
The vice mayoral candidates running unopposed include those in Javier, Mahaplag, Matalom, Hilongos, Macarthur, and La Paz in Leyte; as well as Maslog and Sulat in Eastern Samar. This pattern continues in Biliran with towns like Culaba, Maripipi, Biliran, Caibiran, and Kawayan, and in Northern Samar towns such as Bobon, Capul, Lavezares, Palapag, and San Isidro.
During the period from October 1 to 8, a total of 2,390 incumbent and aspiring officials filed their certificates of candidacy for 1,527 elective positions. These positions span across 1
3 members of the House of Representatives, six provincial governors, six provincial vice governors, 56 members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan, seven city mayors, seven city vice mayors, 72 members of Sangguniang Panlungsod, 136 municipal mayors, 136 municipal vice mayors, and 1,088 members of Sangguniang Bayan.
