Outgoing Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez avoided a potential showdown with his protégé after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice governor of the province instead of gunning for the higher provincial post.
Alvarez submitted his COC at the satellite office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday through his representative Audrei Perez. The latter is also running as board member of the province.
“Yes, I confirmed I filed my COC for vice governor yesterday (Saturday),” Alvarez said in a text message to reporters on Sunday morning. The seasoned politician is running under his Reporma political party.
With this move, Alvarez avoided a potential clash with his protégé incumbent Governor Edwin Jubahib, who is seeking re-election. The lawmaker, however, set up a battle against Jubahib’s daughter, Clarice.
The younger Jubahib agreed to be her father’s running mate in the 2025 gubernatorial race. The Jubahibs are supported by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) of President Marcos.
Prior to his COC filing, Alvarez hinted that he will might run for governor, but changed his mind. He is a member of the House of Representatives since 2016 and at one point served as House Speaker during the Duterte administration.
Meanwhile, incumbent Vice Governor De Carlo Uy also filed his COC on Saturday as representative of the first district of Davao del Norte under the Lakas CMD party. He was accompanied by his father, Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy, and other members of the family as well as their supporters.
Uy will be challenged by board member Nicandro ‘Nickel’ Suaybaguio of PFP and independent candidate Cesar Granada.
