KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/02 October) — A 60-year old farmer who has run twice as governor of North Cotabato, four times as board member for the province’s second district, and once as village chair, was the first to file his certificate of candidacy (CoC) at the local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), this city.
Manuel Adajar, who is running for city mayor arrived at the Comelec office past 30 minutes after the poll body opened for the first day of the filing of COCs.
Adajar, who started running in 1995, said he believes that he lost in the past elections because he lacks resources, including campaign money.
“But in the hearts of the many farmers in the city and in the province, I was their choice. I lost because I don’t have money,” he said.
Asked if Adajar is considered a “nuisance candidate,” city election registrar Diosdado Javier said, “He’s not.”
“The city has only 40 barangays. Most of the barangays have paved roads. He can campaign by walking, riding on the bike or on a motorcycle in going to these barangays. I don’t think he’s a nuisance candidate even if he has run but lost several times in the past,” said Javier.
Aside from Adajar, no candidate filed a COC for mayor on Monday.
Javier said he expects candidates, especially those with party nominations, will file their CoCs anytime after the first day.
“But I’m reminding the candidates there’s no midnight CoC filing. If at 5 p.m. on Friday, these candidates fail to file their CoCs, there’ll be no extension because we would already close our official record book,” he said.
Meantime, Cotabato Governor Lala Mendoza has declared her reelection bid. But she did not announce who would be her running mate.
Mendoza was guest speaker during the 60th founding anniversary of the University of Southern Mindanao, Southwest Mindanao’s premier state university.
Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Nancy Catamco also said in a press briefing here Monday that she will seek reelection under the Liberal Party. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews