KORONADAL CITY — Former South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy Jr. will attempt another comeback in the 2019 mid-term elections by eyeing the city hall seat here.
Pingoy filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor around 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Commission on Elections office in this city under the Lakas-CMD-Partido Federal-Liberal Party slate.
“I’m running for city mayor in response to the strong clamor from our residents,” he told reporters after filing his candidacy.
Pingoy, who is a doctor, was elected governor of South Cotabato in 2010 after three terms as representative of the province’s second congressional district.
He lost his reelection bid in 2013 to then Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes and fell short in the 2016 congressional race, which was won by incumbent Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez.
Incumbent City Mayor Peter Miguel, who is currently on his third term, filed his candidacy as Pingoy’s running mate.
Their city council slate is led by incumbent councilors Edwin Abris, Henry Aguirre, Prechie Louella Ogoy, Francis Rose Dideles and Pingoy’s wife Annabelle.
Other aspirants are former councilors James Lagasca, Junette Hurtado and Oscar Pagunsan, and newcomers Lendel Cadellino and Mylene Bascon.
Miguel, who is also a doctor, said he decided to slide down to the vice mayoral post so he can continue to serve the city’s residents.
“We will work in tandem to bring the best services to the people and ensure that the city’s expansion and development will continue,” he said.
Pingoy will face third-term city vice mayor Eliordo Ogena of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Ogena picked third-term councilor and broadcast journalist Erlinda Araquil as running mate.
Araquil is an anchor of the Brigada News FM here. (Alejandro Saludo/PNA)
