COC FILING. Incumbent Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante (far right) and lone district Rep. Dale Corvera submit their certificates of candidacy at the provincial Comelec office in Butuan City on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 8, 2024). Authorities reported that the filing of COCs across the Caraga Region proceeded without any incident. (Photo courtesy of Cong. Dale Corvera)
BUTUAN CITY – Four incumbent governors in the Caraga Region have officially filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs), seeking re-election in the May 2025 midterm elections.
In Agusan del Norte, Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante filed her COC on Tuesday, aiming for a second term.
Similarly, Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. has filed for re-election and will face a lesser-known independent candidate for the position.
Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. also filed their COCs, both seeking second terms.
Barbers is up against incumbent Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, while Demerey will compete with independent candidate Sonny Llamera.
Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel, having completed two terms, filed his COC to run for the province's second congressional district. He will go head-to-head with former Cantilan Mayor Maria Carla Lopez-Pichay for the seat.
In Butuan City, Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada opted not to run for any position in 2025, instead endorsing Vice Mayor Lawrence Fortun, who has filed his COC for mayor.
Incumbent solons seek reelection
Five incumbent Caraga district representatives are also seeking re-election, among them Dinagat Islands lone district Rep. Alan 1 Ecleo, Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., Agusan del Sur 1st District Rep. Alfelito Bascug, and Agusan del Sur 2nd District Rep. Eddiebong Plaza. Bascug and Plaza are running unopposed.
Momo will face incumbent Marihatag Mayor Justin Marc Lim Pelenio, while Ecleo is challenged by former Dinagat governor Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao.
In Agusan del Norte, 2nd District Rep. Dale Corvera filed his COC for the newly-created lone district seat, while 1st District Rep. Jose Aquino III is running for the newly-established lone district of Butuan City. Both are unopposed.
Other key contenders
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who has reached his term limit, is vying for the gubernatorial seat. He will face former Department of Education Undersecretary Epimaco Verano Densing III.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is stepping away from the political scene, endorsing his wife, Bernadette, for his seat. She will face lawyer Alvin Arena Egay in the race.
Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, representing Surigao del Norte’s 1st District, has filed his COC for governor and endorsed his father, former governor Francisco Matugas, to run for his current post. The elder Matugas will be up against lawyer Lucille Sering.
Peaceful COC filing
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) reported that the week-long filing of COCs from Oct. 1 to 8 was peaceful and incident-free.
“We recorded zero election-related incidents during the COC filing,” PRO-13 spokesperson Maj. Jennifer Ometer said in an interview Wednesday.
To ensure safety during the filing period, PRO-13 deployed 3,132 police personnel across the region. (PNA)
