THIS is one for the books: at least 13 towns in the island province of Masbate have no mayoralty and vice mayoralty candidates.
According to the regional Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, local politicians appeared disinterested in seeking elective posts for vice mayor and municipal councillors.
Comelec regional executive director Maria Juan Valeza said except for the municipality of Cataingan where eight candidates were vying for Sangguniang Bayan memberships, the towns of Uson, San Jacinto, Aroroy, Balud, Batuan, Esperanza, Mobo, Monreal, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz, and San Fernando have zero candidates for mayor and vice mayor.
On the other hand, Sorsogon also has three “uncontested positions” for mayor and vice mayor.
In Prieto Diaz, only one aspirant filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor, and one for vice mayor.
Similarly, nobody would want to be vice mayor of Magallanes town, Valeza noted.
In like fashion, two towns in Catanduanes likewise have no candidates for mayor.
In Panganiban town, there is solo candidate for mayor, along with a lone bet in Viga.
No one is running for vice mayor of Guinobatan, Albay, Valeza disclosed.
Summing up, six mayors, 13 vice mayors and one Sangguniang Bayan post are uncontested in the Bicol Region for the 2024 midterm elections.
