By EDWIN IYO
Correspondent .
GINGOOG City — Mayor Marie Guingona yesterday stepped aside in favor of her vice mayor and mother Ruthie.
The younger Guingona, serving her second office term as mayor, filed her certificate of candidacy for vice mayor while her mother submitted her candidacy papers for mayor.
The elder Guingona served Gingoog City as mayor for three consecutive office terms. She briefly served as governor of Misamis Oriental before that.
The mother-daughter tandem filed their respective certificates under the Nacionalista Party, city hall spokesman John Venice Ladaga said.
Former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. accompanied his wife and daughter as they filed their certificates yesterday afternoon.
Running for councilors under their ticket are Winfred Militante Jr., April Rose Vosotros, Jerome Mercado, Thaddeus Lugod, Myrna Motoomull, Mike Paderanga, and newcomers Conrado Gomez Jr., Judeliine Bernaldez, Winda Teatro, and Osy Rialp.
The candidates heard mass at city hall’s Penthouse before filing their respective certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections city office here.
The Guingona group is being challenged by the group of former Vice Mayor Erick Cañosa and Misamis Oriental 1st district Rep. Peter Unabia.
Cañosa is running for mayor while Unabia is his running mate under the PDP-Laban.

