Tupas seeks 3rd term at Capitol
Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr. filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday afternoon, seeking a third term at the Capitol.
He was accompanied by his running-mate, incumbent 4th dist. Board Member Domingo Oso and their group's candidates for congressmen and board members.
Tupas and company are under the banner of Liberal Party-Ugyon organized by Senator Franklin Drilon last year.
Drilon came home from Manila yesterday to show support to the LP-Ugyon candidates.
The group together attended mass first before marching towards the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Jaro district.
They were joined by their family members and some 100 supporters.
Tupas said, their candidates for congressmen in the province's five districts are: Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores (1st district), Board Member Cecilia Capadosa (2nd district), Atty. Zafiro Lauron (3rd district), Dumangas Mayor Rolando Distura (4th district), and his son Board Member Niel Tupas Jr. (5th district).
While their group's candidates for board member per district are: Miag-ao Councilor Anthony Tacorda (1st district), Board Member Rodolfo Cabado and New Lucena Mayor Jun-Jun Mondejar (2nd district), Councilor Jojo Lutero (3rd district), Matt Palabrica and Sherlyn Palmares-Hidalgo (4th district) and Angel Briones and Balasan Mayor Louel Arban (fifth district).
Senator Drilon raised the hands of Tupas and Oso after filing their respective COCs.
Drilon said he came to join Tupas and company in filing their COCs to show full support to their candidacies.
He thus called on the people to join him in supporting Tupas and his group as "they are the candidates who don't abuse their authority."
Tupas will be facing off with Vice Gov. Roberto Armada, who is the administration party's candidate for the province's top post.
Armada reportedly will file his candidacy today.
December last year, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the dismissal of Tupas, Oso and another board member, Cecilia Capadosa of the 2nd district for grave misconduct.
Interior Usec. Wencelito Andanar then swore in Armada to replace Tupas.
Last January 17, a contingent of police commandos attempted to bodily haul Tupas out of the Capitol following the dismissal order. They were prevented by a last minute temporary restraining order by the Court Appeals' 19th division in Cebu City.
About two weeks ago, the CA issued a prohibitory injunction preventing Gutierrez and Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno from effecting the dismissal order. The three have since appealed their dismissal and is still pending with the CA.