THIS week, local officials and personalities in Laguna province are expected to file their certificates of candidacy (CoC) for the 2022 national and local elections.
However, this early, political analysts are predicting a colorful and heated race, notwithstanding the fact that most campaign activities could be curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Internet effect
Past elections in Laguna, while generally peaceful, had been marked by mudslinging, fake newspaper articles, and lively confrontations among the candidates’ die-hard supporters.
Next year’s polls will be no different, experts say, although the bulk of all political activities are expected to be transferred to the internet and social media amid uncertainties over whether the Covid-19 pandemic can finally be contained next year.
First Congressional race
One particular race analysts are keen on watching is the developing match for the first representative of San Pedro City in Congress.
This will be the first time the city will elect its own representative, after two other cities in what was once the province’s first legislative district – Biñan and Sta. Rosa – won their own seats in Congress in 2013 and 2019, respectively.
Sta. Rosa City will also elect its first representative to Congress next year.
All eyes are now on First District Board Member Ann Matibag, who announced her intention to run for the San Pedro City’s Congressional seat last September 29.
“Ako po ay tumutugon sa mga panawagan at pag-udyok ninyo na ipagpatuloy ko ang aking paninilbihan… Napagpasyahan ko pong dalhin ang aking panunungkulan bilang kauna-unahang kinatawan ng ating bagong distrito ng San Pedro sa Kongreso,” Matibag declared during an “Online Fiestahan” event for Barangay Landayan.
Women empowerment
The first-termer board member of Laguna, who ran on a platform of women empowerment, garnered the highest number of votes in the 2019 elections.
She continues to lead in surveys, drawing big support from the women & youth sectors.
Matibag is expected to face off with recently resigned Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) president and former Laguna board member Dave Almarinez.
Alleged irregularities
Almarinez is a subject of an Ombudsman case, accused of mishandling billions of pesos of government funds.
He is also one of the subjects, as president of PITC, of the ongoing Senate investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies for the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of press time, (October 1), Almarinez, who is also described as an instant San Pedronian, has yet to declare his official intentions.
Face-off for the mayor’s seat
No longer in doubt, however, are the two main forces who will run for the mayoralty race in San Pedro City.
Even before the pandemic began last year, rumors have been swirling in the city that Councilor Aaron Cataquiz, son of current city Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz (who is currently serving her last term), is being groomed to succeed his mother at City Hall.
So it was no surprised for San Pedronians when news reports began to circulate that Councilor Aaron will become the incumbent leadership’s standard-bearer for the 2022 polls.
However, Cataquiz faces a formidable challenge in the person of Vice Mayor Art Mercado, who officially declared his intention to run for mayor last September 23.
Mercado, the nephew of transportation magnate Homer Mercado, surprised political analysts after clinching a shock victory in the 2019 elections, when he ran for vice-mayor under the ticket of former councilor Iryne Vierneza.
Gubernatorial race
Another race to watch for is the face-off between two biggest politicians in the province for the gubernatorial seat.
Incumbent Governor Ramil Hernandez, who has announced his intention to seek a second full term, will face former broadcast journalist and Laguna 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones.
Aragones has the backing of former Laguna governor E. R. Ejercito, whose son Jericho will run for vice-governor under Aragones’ slate.
Experts believe Ejercito still nurses a grudge after he was removed from his office and barred from public service for life in 2014 due to his alleged “overspending” in the 2013 elections.
Covid-19 response a “tie-breaker”?
As of press time, no candidate has yet filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2022 elections in the province of Laguna.
However, early on, experts believe that the local governments’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts to the economy of the province could be a decisive factor in next year’s polls.
This, as Laguna recently experienced a new wave of Covid-19 infections that once again forced the province under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), which has been extended until October 15.
How incumbent local officials have responded to the crisis could be the one factor that can break the “traditional” machineries of politics in the province and shape the minds of voters.