It is clear: There is a rematch between incumbent Mayor Joseph Ascutia and Winnie Oco. This time, however, Dindo Pardo will not be around to grab some votes. But will Dindo Pardo’s votes in 2016 all go to Oco? Pardo got 37.3% votes in 2016 while Oco only got 11.2%. The majority (51.5%) of the votes cast went to Ascutia.

For this year’s election, Ascutia will be running under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) while Oco will be under the National Unity party (NUP).

Instead of competing in the top local executive seat, Pardo (NUP) joined hands with Oco and vie for the vice mayoralty seat.  Pardo will be competing against John Carlo De Lima of PDP-Laban)

A total of 21 candidates will also be competing in the Sangguniang Bayan.

The list of candidates is as follows:

For Mayor

1. ASCUTIA, JOSEPH (PDP-Laban)
2. OCO, WINIFREDO (NUP)

For Vice Mayor

1. DE LIMA, JOHN CARLO VILLAFUERTE (PDP-Laban)
2. PARDO, DINDO VILLAFUERTE (NUP)

For Councilor

1. ALAON, DANTE VILLAFLORES (PDP-Laban)
2. ANDAYA, EVARISTO CERENO (NUP)
3. MASBATE, CHERRY MAY ASIS (PDP-Laban)
4. BANING, LEONARDO EBIYA (PDP-Laban)
5. BARDON, ALVIN GALVEZ (PDP-Laban)
6. GUZMAN, MANUEL SENA (NUP)
7. LAGUADOR, RONEL HERICO (NUP
8. LAUSIN, FRANCIS HEGINA (NUP)
9. LLANETA, ALAN OROPESA (Independent)
10. MOLINA, POTENCIANO ALCANO (NUP)
11. OCO, NORMAN JOHN ODULIO (NUP)
12. OCTA, GREGORIO RAYOS (Independent)
13. ONING, REY KENNETH NERY (PDP-Laban)
14. PANDI, JOEFFREY BARCELONA (Independent)
15. PASATIEMPO, ERIC SAMONTE (NUP)
16. PINTO, RICHARD YASIS (Independent)
17. RIGODON, MICHAEL CORTADO (PDP-Laban)
18. TALLADO, YOLANDA ROS (PDP-Laban)
19. TENORIO, ELPIDIO ESTRAÑERO (PDP-Laban)
20. TENORIO, RENATO ESTRAÑERO (Independent)
21. VILLAFUERTE, NELSON VILLAMONTE (NUP)

• Politics