DAGUPAN CITY — Reelectionist City Mayor Belen Fernandez will be challenged by Vice Mayor Mark Brian Lim in the mayoralty race in this city, after they filed their respective certificate of candidacy (COC) together with their running mates at the City Elections Office on Tuesday.
Fernandez is running under Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD), while Lim is running still under the Nacionalista Party.
Fernandez’s running mate is Bryan Kua, currently president of the Liga ng mga Barangay City Federation. Their tandem is being dubbed as B2B, or Belen and Bryan.
Lim’s candidate for vice mayor is Alipio Serafin “Alfie” Fernandez, son of the late Alipio “Al” Fernandez Sr. However, it was the latter’s son, Carlos Alipio Serafin Fernandez, who filed his COC for vice mayor.
“I am 100-percent committed and decided to run for vice mayor with Lim. But I just have to stall for the meantime the filing of my COC as I am still attending to and settling personal matters,” Alfie explained.
The elder Fernandez said he will substitute his son’s candidacy in due time.
City election supervisor lawyer Ericson Oganiza, in an interview Thursday, said the deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for substitution is on November 29.
Meanwhile, Lim and Alfie Fernandez called their political alliance as LiFe (Lim and Fernandez), same as their fathers Benjie Lim and Al Fernandez, who partnered in the past.
Lim and Fernandez’s running mates are re-electionist Councilor Nicarnor Aquino, former councilor Ma. Librada Fe Reyna, broadcaster Cisco Jay Flores, dentist Maria Lourdes Fernandez, former Public Order and Safety Office chief Robert Erfe-Mejia, former Bonuan Gueset barangay captain Ricardo “Rico” Mejia, former city waste management officer Teddy Villamil Jr., and businessman Maximo Alexis Tan.
Meanwhile, Fernandez’s running mates are reelectionists Guillermo Vallejos, Luis Samson Jr., Dennis Canto and Marvin Fabia; former councilors Karlos Liberato Reyna IV and Michael Fernandez; and Carangalaan barangay captain Teresa Coquia. (/PNA)
