CEBU, Philippines – The fourth day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) on Friday, October 4, was greeted with the return of former vice president Leni Robredo into Naga City politics and a surge in challengers against political dynasties for the 2025 midterm elections.
Robredo, human rights lawyer and president of nongovernment organization Angat Buhay, confirmed her bid for mayor in her hometown with a cast of seasoned public servants in her local Team Naga slate.
Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. will be joining the ex-vice president as her vice mayor. Prior to being elected into Congress, Bordado served as vice mayor alongside Robredo’s late husband, longtime Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo.
“Ang aking mga kasama ngayon, lahat na-evaluate base sa tatlong kategorya: sa ethical standards, sa capacity, at experience sa governance (The people who I am joined by were all evaluated based on three categories: ethical standards, capacity and experience in governance),” Robredo said in a Facebook post.
The Team Naga slate includes incumbent council members Jess Albeus, Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Omar Buenafe, Jose Perez, Oying Rosales, Former Councilor Miles Raquid-Arroyo, City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro, City Budget Officer Frank Mendoza, City Health Officer Dr. Butch Borja, and lawyer Areiz Macaraig.
According to Robredo’s office, the line-up was made through extensive consultations done with over 2,000 Naga City residents, organizations, and multi-sectoral communities.
Dynasty challengers
In the upcoming local races, some aspirants have stepped out of the shadows to challenge the strongholds of political dynasties.
Architect Paul Octaviano filed his COC on Friday afternoon at the Comelec provincial office in Bacolod City to vie for Negros Occidental’s gubernatorial post.
Octaviano told reporters that he decided to run to fight political dynasties and vote-buying. He will be going up against Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson who filed his COC for reelection and a farmer from Candoni named Ferdenand “Bongbong Gorilla” Diego.
Meanwhile, also in Negros Occidental, businessman Jurry Nabaja, and his running mate Vicente Perez are set to challenge the Tabujara family in Cauayan town.
Incumbent Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara and his sister, incumbent Cauyan Vice Mayor Analiza Tabujara-Soriano are seeking reelection for the upcoming 2025 polls.
The Tabujaras are expected to file their COCs before the end of the filing period on October 8.
Meanwhile, John Barry Tayam, a 28-year-old senior high school teacher, filed his COC to run for the congressional seat of the lone district of Las Piñas.
Las Piñas has long been held by the Aguilar and Villar clans. Tayam, who wants to represent the younger generation of “Zoomers” or the Gen Zs in congress, might go up against Senator Cynthia Villar, who is in her last term.
“Kailangan may isa or may mag-step up na from younger generation kasi kami ‘yung future leaders po (There needs to be one or anyone who would step up from the younger generation because we’re the future leaders),” the Gen-Z teacher told reporters.
“New age, new leader,” he added. – Rappler.com
