CEBU, Philippines – The eighth and last day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2025 elections, on October 8, was full of surprises and unexpected twists that lasted until the very last moment aspirants appeared before the local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In Davao City, it is finally clear that the battle for the political throne is going to be between the Duterte dynasty and the Nograles clan.
Earlier in the day, there were rumors that former president Rodrigo Duterte withdrew COC in order to launch a bid for the Senate. In the afternoon, Duterte was nowhere to be found at the Manila Hotel Tent City even up to the last second of filing, dispelling rumors that were initially spread.
Instead, Duterte will be going up against former Cabinet secretary and ex-Civil Service Commission chairman Karlo Nograles, who filed his COC for Davao City mayor on Tuesday morning.
His sister, Migs Nograles, is vying for Davao City 1st District representative. She will be challenging the eldest of the Duterte siblings, Paolo Duterte, who is seeking reelection as congressman.
Karlo and Migs’ decision to run against the Dutertes rekindled a long time feud between the two families, which may set the tone for what’s to come in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
Alice Guo no longer running
As aspirants scurried to the local Comelec offices to formalize their bids, dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping denied rumors of her running for the post she was removed from.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked Guo about reports citing her lawyer who stated that she would run for mayor in 2025.
Guo told Estrada that she would not be joining the local race and when asked why, replied that she wished to face the accusations against her first and clear her name.
Guo is currently facing a series of cases and allegations on her involvement with the heads of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs.
In the same Tuesday hearing, She Zhijiang, a known criminal gambling leader to world operatives, identified Guo as a spy for the Chinese government.
Nephews and uncles
On Monday, October 7, Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. withdrew his reelection bid as he was picked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
On October 8, his nephew Francisco Gabriel “Abeng” Remulla filed his COC for the gubernatorial seat, taking over the older Remulla’s bid for the post.
Abeng is the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. He is also an incumbent Cavite Provincial Board member.
The justice secretary has five children, of whom three are running for the upcoming election.
Abeng’s siblings who are joining the electoral race include his brother, 7th District Representative Crispin Diego Remulla who is seeking reelection, and sister Jacinta who is running for vice mayor of Naic town.
Jacinta is the first female Remulla to enter politics, after years of only men in the family running for government posts.
Meanwhile, in Basilan, Representative Mujiv Hataman and his nephew, Provincial Board Member Jimael “Jay” Salam Hataman are going up against each other for the top seat of the province.
The congressman filed his COC for Basilan governor on Tuesday morning, while his opponent-nephew filed his COC for the same position on Monday, October 7. – Rappler.com