Still no bets filing bids in Abra

BAGUIO CITY (October 3, 2024) -- Already on its second day of filing candidacies in electoral politics-gripped Abra, but not a single bet from the congressional down to members of the Sangunniang Bayan in all 15 towns in the province had sought their local poll agency offices.

Even as political alignments had long been cemented in a supposed two-camp led by League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) national president La Paz town Joseph Sto Niño “JB” Bernos, whose wife Menchie is the incumbent congresswoman, in tandem with former Governor Eustaquio Bersamin, younger brother of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin challenging the father-daughter tandem of Governor Dominic Valera and Vice Governor Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos.

If no last minute changes are made, forking in regional partylist Solid North headed by Mayor Bernos filing its bid in the partylist election Thursday afternoon, incumbent lawmaker Menchie will bid for her second term against any of the Valera’s could-be bet – former Bangued Mayor Ryann Luna or his own sister Dreidei Luna-Ifurung.

Though Mayor JB Bernos could just return as Abra’s congressman and field his wife Rep. Menchie as number one nominee and a young emerging political leader from the huge Ortega political family in La Union and Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. as second and third nominees.

Solid North bannering “Timpuyog ti Amianan (Unity in the North)” is its first-time to join the partylist race in the May 2025 polls promises to forward development initiatives in Northern Philippines, especially the programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that would propel the long-dreamt growth and progress in the northern corridor.