(First of an OpinYon Laguna series for the 2025 midterm elections) Peaceful (with a few exceptions) but heated.
That was how political pundits in the past had characterized local elections in Laguna province.
With over two million voters, the province has earned the distinction as one of the most “vote-rich” provinces in the country.
But with a little more than six months to go before the filing of candidacies for the May 2025 midterm elections, there are now signs that local politics here in the province is about to get a lot more tense, heated and noisy.
Rumors confirmed
It’s all but confirmed that two representatives of the province in Congress will battle for Laguna’s highest political seat: incumbent 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, the one “chosen” to succeed her husband, incumbent Governor Ramil Hernandez; and Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez, whose sudden appearance in billboards all over the province have spelled out his future political plans.
However, as the popular Filipino saying goes, “Papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting na part!”
Two other potential candidates are now attempting to challenge the two biggest contenders in the gubernatorial race: former 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones and incumbent Vice Governor Atty. Karen Agapay.
When Aragones launched her “Akay ni SOL Partylist” group last year, the initial speculation was that she was attempting to return to Congress – this time, through the partylist system, as it’s clear the Amante political family (former San Pablo City Mayor Loreto “Amben” Amante is currently holding Aragones’ former seat in Congress) had further entrenched their hold in Laguna’s third district.
However, last week, newest posters from Sol’s camp are now proclaiming her latest intentions – which is, apparently, to run for governor of the province.
It remains to be seen whether she can beat Ruth Mariano-Hernandez in the race, as she had lost heavily to the latter’s husband, the incumbent governor, during the 2022 elections.
Not giving up?
Meanwhile, there are also signs that Vice Governor Agapay is not giving up the chance to lead the province.
This, despite her apparently being sidelined by Governor Ramil Hernandez (whom she ran for vice-governor under his ticket in the 2022 elections) in favor of his wife.
Aside from continuing her public service programs in the first and second district, Agapay also led the recent swearing-in ceremonies of the new members of the Partido Federal in Laguna province.
Tight race
With at least four candidates now leading the pack for the gubernatorial race, political analysts see an even harder “uphill climb” for the main contenders for the 2025 elections.
“This will be a very interesting race to watch, especially as both Aragones and Agapay are expected to siphon off supporters from the two main contenders in the coming elections,” one analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity told OpinYon Laguna. “The candidates will have to work harder to convince Lagunenses that they are worthy of leading the province through the new economic and social challenges post-Covid-19.”
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