SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The gubernatorial candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan has withdrawn her Certificate of Candidacy to pave way for the substitution of the brother of incumbent Gov. Manuel Ortega.
Janet Cartas, a councilor of Barangay Gana, Caba, La Union, withdrew her CoC for the gubernatorial race at the provincial office of the Commission on Election here on Thursday, a few minutes before Mario Eduardo Ortega, the governor’s executive assistant, filed his substitution papers.
Cartas chose Mario Ortega as her substitute after Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos approved his candidacy. The senator’s father, former President Marcos, formed the KBL in 1978.
Jose Vicente Opinion, KBL’s chairman and president, issued Mario Ortega’s nomination which was received by lawyer Joel Gines, the Comelec provincial officer.
Mario Ortega, a former national vice president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, will be facing three other gubernatorial bets which include his nephew Abono Partylist Rep. Francisco Emmanuel ‘Pacoy’ Ortega III, son of the incumbent governor. Pacoy Ortega filed his CoC as an independent candidate.
Gov. Manuel Ortega is now on his third and final term. He has said he would retire from politics.
Also running for the gubernatorial post as an independent is Henry Bacurnay, the Undersecretary for External Affairs at the Office of the President, and former 2nd District representative Butch Dumpit of the National Unity Party.
“We tried everything to settle the matter (political differences) but he (Pacoy) was not convinced. That’s why I have to subject myself from the clamor of supporters,” Mario said.