Panlilio, Pineda to face off again in Pampanga in 2010

Incumbent Pampanga governor Eddie Panlilio and former board member Lilia Pineda are set to face off again for the province's gubernatorial post after both filed their respective certificates of candiday (COC). Panlilio filed his reelection bid under the Liberal Party (LP) on Tuesday night, while Pineda formalized her bid last Saturday under the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, election officials from the province said. Pineda, wife of suspected jueteng lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, has a pending election protest case against Panlilio, whom she accused of rigging the results of the 2007 local elections in his favor. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is yet to come up with a ruling on the case. An independent candidate, agriculturist Ricardo Ocampo Sr., also filed his COC for governor last Friday, the first day of COC filing. Ocampo previously ran but lost as mayor of Mexico town in the province. Professional basketball coach Joseller “Yeng" Guiao, incumbent vice governor of Pampanga, is also seeking reelection in 2010 as Pineda’s running mate. Guiao will be challenged by businessman Marco Lazatin, who is running under the LP. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMANews.TV