Pangasinan's curious record: 996 candidates in May 14 polls

DAGUPAN CITY – As many as 996 candidates are running for various elective public offices in Pangasinan, the SunStar reported Thursday. Pangasinan is composed of four cities and 44 municipalities. It counts a total of 1.32 million voters, according to the Commission on Elections, as of the last elections in 2004. As well, Pangasinan is the third vote-rich province in the country, after Cebu's 2.02 million voters, and Bulacan's 1.4 million voters. The SunStar report said there are two candidates each for the mayoral posts in the province's cities of Alaminos, Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta. For vice mayor, there are three contenders in Alaminos and two each in Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta. “In the 44 municipalities, there are 109 candidates for mayor and 109 for vice mayor. On the other hand, 890 people are running for the 352 seats for councilor," according to SunStar. “Running unopposed are reelectionist Mayors Amado Espino III of Bautista, Ramon Guico Jr. of Binalonan, Ernesto Castañeda of Lingayen, Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. of Mapandan, Vivien Villar of Sto. Tomas." The report said first-time candidate Carmen "Kimi" Cojuangco, wife of fifth district Representative Mark Cojuangco, is running unopposed for mayor in Sison town. It added that running unopposed are reelectionist Vice Mayors Clemente Arboleda Jr. of Alcala, Napoleon Celeste of Anda, Orlando Bartolome of Lingayen, Ramon Guico III of Binalonan and Timoteo Villar III of Sto. Tomas. - GMANews.TV