2022 Elections: Will CamNorte’s Egay Tallado serve a ‘5th Term’ as governor?

The legally embattled governor of Camarines Norte, Edgardo ‘Egay’ Tallado is seeking again another term under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLBN). He is facing four challengers namely Ricarte Padilla of Aksyon Demokratiko, John Rom of Partido Pederal ng Maharlika (PPM) and independent candidate Romeo Balmeo.

Tallado had his first term as governor in 2010 but his service was interrupted according to the Supreme Court when he was meted with suspension in October 2015 and dismissal in 2018 for invalidating appointments of provincial employees done by his predecessor Jesus Typoco.

Tallado’s certificate of candidacy in 2019 was cancelled by the Commission on Elections based on the claim that the governor had three uninterrupted terms — that is, from 2010-2013, 2013-2016, and 2016-2019. Provincial governors are allowed only a maximum of three consecutive terms. The Supreme Court, however, said that there was interruption when Tallado was suspended for his illegal acts. Hence, Tallado was allowed to continue his candidacy in 2019 and generated 149,753 votes as against Catherine Reyes with 105,149. The third candidate, Romeo Balmeo, Balmeo, who is again runing for governor and challenge Tallado, got only 1,734 votes in the last gubernatorial race.

But, will the people of Camarines Norte give Tallado a fresh mandate despite being considered a recidivist in dismissing provincial employees? Or will former Jose Panganiban Mayor Ricarte Padilla, the strongest challenger of Tallado, finally snatch the seat this coming 2022?

Padilla run for Vice Governor in 2019 and got 120,159 votes while the winning candidate, Jonah Pimentel, got 121,919.

Pimentel is again seeking reelection this coming elections.

The complete list of provincial candidates in Camarines Norte is as follows:

For Governor: