Popular actor tries Benguet SP post this time

BAGUIO CITY (October 2, 2024) -- This time around, popular actor Roi Vinzon David or Roi Vinzon, is trying his mettle into the Sanggunniang Panlalawigan of Benguet province. 

Vinzon, who once ran but lost at the Baguio City council race in 2007, lodged his bid in Benguet Wednesday, after getting a property and establishing residency in Tuba town in Benguet. 

“Meron naman siguro tayong konting maitutulong sa Benguet,” the actor-turned-politician said. 

This as electoral bids had been coming in trickles in Benguet since the start of the filing of candidacies on Tuesday. 

Not reaching even half a dozen had so far lodged their bids in various local positions. 

Though one among the first to file their bids is former Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director Rabindranath Quilala as municipal councilor of Tuba town Tuesday morning after 33 years that he was out from local politics. 

A former councilor, Quilala is running as an independent bet though under the Roger Kitma for Mayor Group, he said. I am doing a return with the message, “Come Back to Give Back for A Better Tuba,” he said. 

Re-electionist lawmaker Eric Go Yap is scheduled to file his second bid as regular Representative in Congress on October 4 (Friday). He has teamed up with incumbent and re-electionist Governor Melchor Diclas. 

Rep. Yap first served Benguet as a caretaker congressman in 2019 when Benguet lawmaker Nestor Fongwan succumbed to illness. 

The then ACT-CIS partylist representative began loving and selflessly caring for Benguet established residence in Itogon town, had embraced the province and its people truly like his own. 

Yap will be challenged by incumbent Benguet Vice-Governor Ericson Felipe of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), who is reportedly teaming up with either former Vice Governor Johnny Waguis or businessman George Punasen. 

The newcomer in Benguet electoral politics Punasen is the Northern Luzon coordinator of the Raffy Tulfo In Action (RTIA) help center based in La Trinidad, Benguet. He had taken oath before the PFP leadership as member of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s political party.