October 12, 2021 | 12:00am
(Second of two parts)
MANILA, Philippines — More celebrities are joining the political race in the coming May 2020 elections.
Aside from national posts, personalities from showbiz, sports and pageantry also filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) from Oct. 1 to 8 for various local posts.
Gunning for elective posts are the following: Actor Jason Abalos (board member, Second District of Nueva Ecija); beauty queen Sharifa Akeel-Mangudadatu (governor, Sultan Kudarat); actor Dan Alvaro (board member, Fifth District of Bulacan); Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson Ma. Rachel Arenas (Third District of Pangasinan); and actor Javi Benitez (mayor of Victorias City, Negros Occidental).
Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa, 24, just married Congressman Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, 53, last August.
Also among those running in the 2022 polls include singer-songwriter Lito Camo (board member, Second District of Oriental Mindoro); actor and singer Alex Castro (vice governor, Bulacan); actor Jerico Ejercito (vice mayor, Laguna); Pinoy Big Brother 2008 big winner Ejay Falcon (vice governor, Oriental Mindoro); actor Daniel Fernando (governor, Bulacan); and Long Mejia (board member, First District of Bulacan).
Lucy Torres-Gomez will run as mayor of Ormoc City; comedian “Teri Onor” or Dexter Dominguez in real life as vice mayor of Abucay, Bataan; actor and producer Rommel Padilla (First District of Nueva Ecija); Jukebox Queen Imelda Papin as governor, Camarines Sur; former basketball player and actor Alvin Patrimonio as mayor of Cainta, Rizal. Both actors Yul Servo and Raymond Bagatsing will face off in the vice mayoralty race in Manila.
Lucy swapped posts with husband Richard Gomez, who filed COC as Leyte Fourth District representative. Richard is the current Ormoc City mayor. Imelda is the incumbent vice governor of Camarines Sur. She will run as governor under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas this election.
Meanwhile, those who are seeking the position of council member in their respective cities include the following: Former child actor Nash Aguas in Cavite City; actress Claudine Barretto in Olongapo City; actor Hero Bautista (Fourth District, Q.C.); actress Angelu de Leon in Pasig City; singer and beauty queen Ali Forbes (Q.C.); actor and host Jhong Hilario in Makati City. Actor and QC fifth district Rep. Alfred Vargas decided to run for city councilor in District 5.
Claudine is eyeing the position of councilor in Olongapo City under the local slate led by talent manager Arnold Vegafria, who is also running for a mayoral post. Claudine is an Ilongga but her grandfather was once the governor of Zambales, hence, she is qualified to run in the province, according to her talent manager.
Other personalities eyeing same post are actress Alma Moreno in Parañaque City; actress Arci Muñoz in Cainta, Rizal; actor Dennis Padilla in Caloocan City; actor Vandolph Quizon in Parañaque City; comedian Lou Veloso in Makati City; basketball player James Yap in San Juan City; and actor Jomari Yllana in Parañaque City.
