By end of COC filing deadline…
36 candidates throw hats for
Prov’l, Congressional seats

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol Oct 9 (PIA)—The Commission on Elections in Bohol (COMELEC Bohol) revealed that at the closing hours of the filing of Certificates of Candidacies (CoC) for the 2025 midterm elections for local positions, October 8, 36 six candidates vying for fifteen vacant local positions in the Provincial and Congressional seats have shown interest in public service.

Of the 36 candidates, three are contesting for the provincial top seat as incumbent Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas-PFP) stakes his claim for his second 3-year term, according to documents furnished by Provincial COMELEC Election Officer Atty. Eliseo Labaria.

Others eyeing for the top seat include former Bohol Water Alliance spokesperson and Tagbilaran City resident Erastus Nuñez Leopando (Labor Party of the Philippines-LPP), and former Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim (Independent-IND).

For the Vice Governor’s seat, three candidates have filed their intention to lead provincial legislation: incumbent Board member and father of Congresswoman Kristine Alexie B. Tutor, Nicanor Sarabia Besas who sits as Liga ng mga Barangay representative (Nacionalista Party), self-claimed environment advocate Santos Amaya Abella (IND) and former board member and contractor Gerardo Cutamora Garcia (Liberal Party-LP).

For the 10 provincial legislator’s seats, 33 aspirants are throwing their hats in, including incumbents hoping for a new mandate and fresh from the mills.

Of the three seats reserved for Bohol’s First District, aspirants include incumbents former Globe Telecom executive Aldner Rafols Damalerio (National Unity Party-NUP), lawyer Vinzencio Buhi-on Arcamo (NUP), former city councilor and women and organic agriculture advocate Lucille Yap Lagunay (PFP), wife of former governor Victor dela Serna, Marybelle Paguia Dela Serna (IND), anti-graft warrior and businessman Emmanuel Bongcac Ramasola (IND), business woman contractor Margaux Leyson Herrera-Caya (PFP), former city councilor and businessman Jonas Revil Cacho (Laban nga Demokratikong Pilipino-LDP), former Gallares Hospital Medical Chief and physician Mutya Kismet Tirol Macuno (Reform PH), and realtor Engr. Amon Ray Clavano Loquerre (Democratic Party of the Philippines-DPP).

For the second District representatives to the Provincial Board, of the three seats, vying for the top four positions are incumbents lawyer Jiselle Rae Villamor (PFP), lawyer and Holy Name professor of law dean, Tomas Dahab Abapo, (PFP), businesswoman Vierna Mae Boniel Maglasang (Nationalist People’s Coalition-NPC), volunteer teacher and former Sangguniang Kabataan Municipal Federation president Frans Gelaine Caminos Garcia (Akbayan citizens Action Party).

Also vying for the same position is former Carlos P. Garcia mayor Fernando Boyboy Estavilla (PFP).

For Bohol’s Third District Representatives at the Sanggunian, nine are focusing on three positions, including incumbent Vice Governor and former board member mayor from Garcia Hernandez Tita Virtudazo Baja (Nacionalista Party), businessman Greg Espinito Lagura Jala, (NP), physician Elpidio Libres Bonita (NPC) and former Carmen councilor Nathaniel Oñez Binlod (NP).

Challenging their seats are Carmen mayor Conchita Toribo’s twin Angelita Abundo Toribio (IND), son of former Vice Governor Victor Dionisio Balite, Dionisio Joseph Valmores Balite (NP), Candijay councilor Arnelieto Soriano Oladria (LDP), former professor and lawyer Dominic Olaer Villafuerte (NPC), and community organizer and former executive assistant of Governor Arthur Yap, Renato Rapera Espinosa Jr., (NPC).

For Bohol’s First Congressional Representation, for the single seat, incumbent statesman Congressman Edgar Migriño Chatto (NUP) would be staking his last term against Makati-based lawyer Jordan Giuseppe Matig-a Pizarras (Aksyon Demokratiko-AD), and former Tagbilaran City Mayor and sportsman John Geesnell Yap II Lim (LDP).

In the Second Congressional District, incumbent Congresswoman and wife of Governor Aris Aumentado, Maria Vanessa Cadorna Aumentado is getting challenged by retired National Irrigation Administration Regional Manager Modesto, Guisado Membreve (Liberal Party), who earlier filed for Board member but withdrew to cast his luck for Congress.

In the Third Congressional District, former Board member and Incumbent Congresswoman Kristine Alexie Besas Tutor of Lakas CMD is finding a challenge in lawyer McAldous Calunsag Castañares, who just took his employment oath under the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, but resigned. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

FOR THEIR SECOND TERMS. Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and wife Congresswoman Maria Vanessa Aumentado simultaneously filed with their slates their Certificates of Candidacies for their positions, as Bohol Election Officer Atty Eliseo Labaria reviews their COCs and explains the Integrity Pledge for all elective candidates. (PIABohol/RadioPilipinas)