TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- After weeks of rumors, Cagayan Third District Representative Randolph Ting on Thursday, November 29, has finally decided to run for governor in the 2019 elections.
Ting, an official of National Unity Party (NUP) in Cagayan, filed a substitution to his brother Larry, who filed his candidacy during the filing of candidacies in October.
Ting is now on his third and last term as congressman in the most populated district in Cagayan.
He currently holds the chairmanship in the committee on labor and employment in the House of Representatives.
In an interview with local reporters, Ting said he decided to run for governor because of the “slow” movement of progress in the province, adding that his experience as mayor in Tuguegarao City is a “qualification” for the executive position
With his candidacy, the fight for the governorship in the province has tightened as all three candidates are considered political scions.
Ting will be battling it out with incumbent Governor Manuel Mamba and former Governor Alvaro Antonio.
Mamba won in a three-way fight in the 2016 elections. One of his opponents was Antonio’s daughter.
Antonio, meanwhile, won for three consecutive elections in 2007, 2010, and 2013. His stronghold, the first district of Cagayan, is expected to deliver for him, as he also partnered with Vargases, whose bailiwick is the second district of Cagayan.
Meanwhile, incumbent Cagayan First District Representative Ramon Nolasco withdrew his candidacy for re-election, and was substituted by his son.
Nolasco was the first congressman to overthrow the Enriles in Cagayan when he won over 10,000 of votes against the son of Juan Ponce Enrile. Northernforum.net
