Aklan solon is unopposed, lone opponent withdraws bid
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores is running unopposed in the upcoming elections after businessman Apolonio ‘Apol’ Zaraspe III withdrew his bid for congressman.
Miraflores, a candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, is seeking reelection for the lone district of Aklan. He was elected twice to the position, starting in 2004.
Miraflores’ running mate Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez is competing against two candidates – former Manila treasurer Anthony Acevedo and former Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) manager Leovigildo Mationg.
Zaraspe filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for congressman barely beating the deadline on December 1 at the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) office while another independent candidate pulled out of the congressional race and run instead for governor.
According to Tibyog Akean stalwart and former Vice Governor Ronquillo Tolentino, the withdrawal of Zaraspe as opponent of incumbent Aklan solon Miraflores in May 10, 2010 election is historic.
“This is the first time in Aklan that a congressman seeking for reelection is unopposed since the separation of the province of Aklan from Capiz in 1956,” he said.
In 2007 local elections, Zaraspe also ran and lost in the mayoral race against Kalibo mayor Raymar Rebaldo of Tibyog Akean.
“Joeben” as the congressman is fondly known was elected governor thrice from 1995 to 2001 and Ibajay town mayor for three terms. Out of 17 municipalities in Aklan, three mayoral candidates of Nabas, Balete and Tangalan are also running unopposed.

In the vice gubernatorial post, incumbent Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo of Nationalista Party-Kusog it Akean is running against lone candidate and former Ibajay mayor Roberto Garcia, Jr. of Partido ng Masang Pilipino-PDP Laban.

Comelec Resolution No. 8678 states that, "any person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may at any time before election day and subject to Sec. 13 hereof, file personally a statement of withdrawal under oath in five (5) legible copies with the office where the certificate of candidacy was filed, however, no substitute is allowed for any independent candidate."