FUTURE OFFICIALS OF DAVAO OCCIDENTAL: (left to right) Congressional bet Lorna Bautista Bandigan, vice gubernatorial bet Franklin Bautista, gubernatorial candidate Claude Bautista, and Malita town vice-mayoral candidate raises each other’s hand at the comelec office after filing their respective COCs. They are unopposed and just waiting for the election day to cast a vote. (Photo by Eldie S. Aguirre)
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By ELDIE S. AGUIRRE,
Digos Bureau Chief

DIGOS CITY – Members of the Bautista clan running for different posts in the newly created Davao Occidental came out unopposed in their quest to become the first elected officials of the province by May 2016.

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Davao del Sur Governor Claude Bautista threw his hat for the gubernatorial race in Davao Occidental after serving first term as the local chief executive of the old province.

Davao Occidental was created on October 28, 2013 through Republic Act 10360. It was carved out from the Southern part of Davao del Sur with five (5) local government units under its territorial jurisdiction including Malita, the hometown of the Bautistas.

Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad San-tos (JAS), and Sarangani town currently belongs to Davao Occidental.

Lorna Bautista Bandi-gan, considered a neophyte being her first time joining a political race after filing her Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) for the lone legislative district of Davao Occidental. Bandigan will not experience hardship and sleepless nights campaigning as nobody dared to challenge her until the last minute of CoC filing.

Incumbent House Representative for the second district of Davao Del Sur Franklin Bautista slid down from his post and bid for the vice-gubernatorial seat of Davao Occidental. He is also running unopposed.

Malita Mayor Joseph Bautista run for vice-mayor along with his nephew Bradley Bautista as his mayoralty candidate.

The town groomed to become a city has more or less 90 thousand registered voters. It is where a multi-billion coal-fired power plant is being constructed and set for operation by 2017.

Claude Bautista said he would pursue the dreams of the people by pushing more development agenda during his administration.

“Considering the fact that there are lots of political figures and influential people outside our clan they did not field anybody to challenge us. This means to say they entrusted this province to us, hence we will do our best to propel this place in the coming days towards a more developed and conducive place to live,” Bautista said.

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