Ex-Kalibo mayors file COCs

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – With no funfare, former Kalibo mayor Allen Salas Quimpo formally filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the capital town of Kalibo.

Election Officer Atty. Jufrey Derequito said Quimpo filed his COC along with former Kalibo mayor Raymar Acevedo Rebaldo on Monday morning for next year’s midterm elections.

Comelec’s deadline is on Friday at 5 p.m. according to Atty. Derequito. 

The two ex-mayors who were wearing yellow t-shirts filed their certificates of candidacy at around 9:30 a.m. 

Quimpo, a Tibyog Akean stalwart, is expected to face off with incumbent Kalibo mayor William Sucgang Lachica. He tapped Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Rebaldo as his vice mayoral bet.

Quimpo was the Aklan congressman from 1992 to 2001 before he was appointed as executive director of Aklan Rivers Development Council.

Rebaldo will be pitted against Madeline Ang Regalado, who is seeking her second term in the vice mayoral post of Kalibo. Rebaldo first served as Kalibo mayor from 2001 to 2010. He then run for Aklan provincial board after serving Kalibo for three consecutive terms.

In a bid to reclaim their old posts in Kalibo, Tibyog Akean leaders will field a complete slate for councilors. 

Among their councilors bet under Quimpo-Rebaldo ticket  included in the short list are Roselita Sauza, Juliet Melgarejo, former New Buswang barangay captain Darius Demogina, former Sangguniang Bayan members Mark Quimpo, Gregorio Malapad, Estrella Briones and Buencamino Villanueva and Poblacion kagawad Guadillo Morales.

The councilorables of Lachica-Regalado are re-electionists Ariel Fernandez, Arnaldo Tejada, Mark Mitchell Sy, George Quimpo, Peter Jane Lao and Rodillo Policarpio and former SB member Augusto Tolentino, who is also making a comeback as Kalibo councilor. 

Lachica’s camp has yet to name another candidate to complete the final eight slots.