Will Bernardina Borja bag the mayoralty seat in the Santa Elena, Camarines Norte race this time?

In 2016, Bernardina Borja lost in a neck and neck race with Emelita Mendoza. The vote margin was barely 600 votes with a third contender, Manuel Gabitanan, snatching the deciding votes. With Mendoza out of the race, it appears that Borja will be the winner this time. Not unless William Bercilla give her a good fight, which, according to pundits, is rather unlikely. Bercilla is from the National Unity Party (NUP) while Borja is with the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

In the vice mayoralty race, Danilo Ibasco (PDP-Laban) who also lost by a hundred votes to Bonie Argarin, is aiming for a sure win against Ryan Jeffrey Mendoza (NUP).

A tough fight is also expected from the newcomers seeking a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan. All the eight incumbent councilors are seeking reelection.

The complete list of candidates is as follows:

For Mayor

1. BERCILLA, WILLIAM (NUP)
2. BORJA, BERNARDINA (PDP-Laban)

For Vice Mayor

1. IBASCO, DANILO (PDP-Laban)
2. MENDOZA, RYAN JEFFREY (NUP)

For Councilor

1. ABAD, ERLIZA (NUP)
2. ALLERMO, RICHARD (PDP-Laban)
3. ARDA, KUYA TED (NUP)
4. ARGARIN, DARWIN (NUP)
5. BACTOL, CECILIO (PDP-Laban)
6. BUENO, RICARDO (PDP-Laban)
7. CALLEJO, TONY (NUP)
8. DE GUZMAN, TATOY (NUP)
9. FERMO, CEL (NUP)
10. GABITANAN, MANUEL (NUP)
11. HALILI, HAJIE (PDP-Laban)
12. LAGAMAYO, RAMIL (PDP-Laban)
13. LEYNES, ARNOLD (PDP-Laban)
14. MENDOZA, KUYA HOWARD (NUP)
15. SARGENTO, TOMASITO (PDP-Laban)
16. SIBULO, MYRNA (PDP-Laban)

• Politics