Just like in 2016, the mayoralty race in Oas, Albay is a three-cornered fight. Incumbent Mayor Domingo Escoto Jr., who is now running under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is once again facing Gregorio Ricarte of Kusog Bikolandia. On the third corner of the mayoralty race is Vice Mayor Junpale Yuchongco who is running under the Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC).

If the political strength of each candidate is left unchanged, the incumbent Excoto will have an advantage. Escoto, which garnered 11,099 votes in 2016, edged Ricarte with around 3,000 votes. Vice Mayor Yuchongco, meanwhile, generated only 7,572 votes.

The seat to be vacated by Yuchongco is being eyed by Joseph Rentosa (PDP-Laban), and incumbent councilors Robert Arevalo (Independent) and Reene Raro (NPC),

17 candidates are also eyeing a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan. Five of these are incumbents virually leaving three seats up for grabs.

The list of candidates is as follows:

For Mayor

1. ESCOTO, DOMINGO JR. (PDP-Laban)
2. RICARTE, GREGORIO (KB)
3. YUCHONGCO, JUNPALE (NPC)

For Vice Mayor

1. AREVALO, ROBERT (IND)
2. RARO, REENE (NPC)
3. RENTOSA, JOSEPH (PDP-Laban)

For Councilor

1. BRIJUEGA, BOS NOEL (NPC)
2. CASIMIRO, CLET (IND)
3. COMBOY, GREG (NPC)
4. MENGUITO, DJ (PDP-Laban)
5. RANCES, LILIA (PDP-Laban)
6. RAPOSON, HENRY (PDP-Laban)
7. RAQUID, RAYMUNDO (PDP-Laban)
8. REARIO, JESUS (IND)
9. REDILLAS, GIL (NPC)
10. REDRICO, JING (IND)
11. RELLAMA, GADER (PDP-Laban)
12. RENALES, ANTONIETTE MARIA (IND)
13. RENDOR, EDONG (IND)
14. SERGIO, RAUL (PDP-Laban)
15. VICERA, DELBERT BUTCH (PDP-Laban)
16. WARDE, BOBOY (IND)
17. ZARAGOZA, LEOPOLDO (PDP-Laban)

• Politics