BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Governor Albert Garcia and his two brothers and a sister have filed their certificate of candidacy (COCs), all seeking re-election for different positions in the May 2019 mid-term elections.
Garcia, who is seeking his third and last term, has an opponent in the post after Severino Samonte of the Partido Federalismo ng Pilipinas (PFP) submitted his COC on the last day of filing.
The governor’s brothers, Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia is seeking his second term while Rep. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III of the province’s second district, is on his third and last term. They are running unopposed.
His sister, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia, is also seeking her third and last term.
Their first cousin, incumbent Vice Governor Maria Kristina Garcia, is on her second term. She also has no opponent.
All the Garcias are running under the National Unity Party (NUP).
For the five-member Sangguniang Panlalawigan post in each district, there are nine candidates in the first district and seven in the second district.
“No report of incidents in municipalities. The filing of the COCs was peaceful,” said lawyer Gilbert Almario, the provincial election supervisor.
This sentiment was also echoed by Balanga City election supervisor Melanio Sibayan, describing the filing of the COC up to the last day as “organized.” (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
