34 congressional bets facing no opposition in Monday’s polls

May 12, 2019

Thirty-four congressional candidates have virtually earned a new term of office as they have no opponents in Monday's midterm elections. 

Commission on Elections (Comelec) records show 34 congressionalcandidates are running unchallenged. They are: Neptali Gonzales II(Mandaluyong City); Dale Malapitan (Caloocan City); Wesley Gatchalian(Valenzuela City); Abraham Tolentino (Cavite); Strike Revilla(Cavite); Luis Ferrer IV (Cavite); Alex Advincula (Cavite); DaniloFernandez (Laguna); Joaquin Chipeco Jr. (Calamba City); ResureccionAcop (Antipolo City); Henry Villarica (Bulacan); Cristina Garcia(Bataan); Charlie Cojuangco (Tarlac); Mario Mariño (Batangas); FranzAlvarez (Palawan); Mark Enverga (Quezon); Angelina Tan (Quezon); JunieCua (Quirino); Pablo Ortega (La Union); Elias Bulut (Apayao); RamonNolasco Jr. (Cagayan); Arnulfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental); Ma.Lourdes Arroyo (Negros Occidental); Leo Cueva (Negros Occidental);Jose Benitez (Negros Occidental); Vincent Garcia (Davao City); IsidroUngab (Davao City); Corazon Malanyaon (Davao Oriental); Joel MayoAlmario (Davao Oriental); Lorna Bautista-Bandigan (Davao Occidental);Ruwel Gonzaga (Compostella Valley); Jose Tejada (Cotabato); ManuelZubiri (Bukidnon); and Bai Rihan Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat).

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza said Sunday dozens of candidates for governor, mayor and other local posts are also running without opponents.“

Just like in business, competition is absolutely necessary to provideconsumers – in this case voters – greater freedom to choose, and toencourage fair play,” said Atienza.

“What is happening now is that many candidates are just negotiatingamong themselves, with the stronger ones usually buying out theirweaker rivals,” said Atienza. DMS