All's peaceful and quiet at the Provincial Comelec
Four disqualification cases later and no approved withdrawals nor substitutions as of yet, the office of the Iloilo Provincial Comelec here appeared to be all peaceful and quiet.
Yesterday saw a relatively 'slow' working day with no flurry of activity even as one lawyer appeared in behalf of a candidate client to withdraw his client's candidacy.
Yet for lack of Comelec-required paperworks specifically the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), the lawyer was told his client has to either personally appear and signify intent to back out or, counsel goes back and show his duly signed SPA.
The News Today (TNT) gathered that up for withdrawal was First District Board Member contender Gerardo Torreverde Gatoc of the Liberal Party. It was not immediately clear if a substitution is in the offing however a top Comelec official shared that all he was told was for the planned withdrawal of Gatoc.
Meanwhile, talks are also ripe on yet another withdrawal also for a board member contender in the same district.
Unofficial report gathered from district insiders revealed the sure plan of outgoing Guimbal Mayor Richard Garin to make a comeback in the Capitol.
This, as Garin will reportedly take-over the spot of Pedro Torreblanca Gaton with Gaton's impending withdrawal and then the subsequent Garin-substitution.
As such, Garin is expected to show his official nomination from the administration's Lakas party alongside reelectionist Board Member Macario Napulan. A huge tarpauline was said to have been displayed already in the Garin residence in Guimbal, Iloilo showing the tandem of the mayor and Napulan.
Reporters milled around the Comelec yesterday in anticipation of Garin's move however as of press time, no additional attempt to withdraw nor substitute was made.
Garin's candidacy came amid reports that reelectionist Board Member Bernardo "Idol" Silla has shifted to the camp of First District congressionable Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores.
Efforts to get Silla's confirmation failed.
In the municipal level, TNT got the confirmation of an initial withdrawal and substitution of couple Diana and Hernan Biron, parents of Fourth Distict reelectionist Congressman Ferjenil Biron.
Diana who filed her candidacy for Mayor of Barotac Nuevo gave way to her husband Hernan. Hernan Jr. on the other hand stays as vice mayoralty bet in the Municipality of Dumangas.