Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II yesterday filed his Certificate of Candidacy at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections as he sets his eyes for re-election in the May 2010 polls.

Macias, provincial chairman of the Nationalist People's Coalition, was accompanied by his running mate, Bayawan City Mayor German Saraña, who is expected to also file his CoC anytime this week.

Acting provincial election supervisor Eddie Aba received and reviewed the documents submitted by the governor, whose candidacy will be declared valid by the poll body if nobody files a petition or contest it within five days from filing.

Macias said he chose to file his CoC on the 22 nd of this month as the digits represent his second term on the second round of his governorship.

He first served as governor for three terms from 1988 to 1998, after which he was elected three consecutive times as congressman of the 2 nd District of Negros Oriental.

Macias has also announced the other members in his slate, namely, lawyer Saleto Erames, Rotelio Lumjod, Mellimore Saycon and incumbent Pamplona Mayor Apolinario Arnaiz Jr. as his candidates for Board Members of the second district.

The governor said he will also be supporting re-electionists Rep. Josy Limkaichong (Neg. Or., 1 st District) and Rep. Henry Pryde Teves (Neg. Or., 3 rd District), who are both members of the administration's Lakas-KAMPI merger.

Macias admits that it is a “mix and match” slate in the province for next year's polls, adding that it is difficult to come up with a one-party complete ticket.

As for candidates for the provincial board, regardless of party affiliation, he will be supporting Limkaichong's choice in her district, while he will also be backing the bids of Ruel de Gamo, Peve Ligan and Edmund Ty in the third district.

Macias also announced that he will not be fielding candidates for the positions of mayor, vice mayor and councilors in all of the towns and cities in the province.

He further disclosed that until today, he and his political teammates do not yet have a candidate for president as the NPC is still deliberating on who their standard bearer will be.

Macias, however, said they will make an announcement as to who they shall be supporting for the country's top elective position by Dec. 1, the deadline set by Comelec for the filing of CoCs.

Meanwhile, the governor said politics was not discussed in a private meeting with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Saturday before the arrival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Dumaguete City .

Remonde, Macias, former Rep. Herminio Teves (LAKAS-KAMPI) and Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices (Pundok Kasaligan) had a closed-door social interaction inside the VIP room at the arrival area of the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport.

Macias is expected to be pitted against incumbent Vice Gov. Jose Baldado who had previously announced that he will be seeking the governorship next year side by side with his running mate, Perdices.

Both, however, have not yet filed their CoCs as of this writing.*JFP

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