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Second generation politicians in Zambales' special election

from NAMFREL Election Monitor Vol.2, No.25
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On February 4, 2012, more than 200,000 voters in the province of Zambales will see no new faces in the special election for the second congressional district. The special election was set by Comelec upon the request of the Provincial council of Zambales to replace Rep. Antonio Diaz, who died last year.

The second district of Zambales covers the capital town of Iba and the towns ofBotolan, Cabangan, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, San Antonio, San Felipe, San Narciso, and Santa Cruz.

The possible candidates for the special election are Rica Diaz, daughter of the late Representative Antonio Diaz; Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, daughter of former Governor Amor Deloso; Jun Omar Ebdane, provincial administrator and son of Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.; and Board Members Wilfredo Pangan and Alfred Mendoza. According to Comelec, Ebdane, being an appointed official, should first resign before filing his certificate of candidacy. Filing period will be from January 16-18, a day before the campaign period which will be from January
19 to February 2.

The province is also under the Comelec imposed gun ban which started on December 14, 2011 and will last until February 14.

Based on the Comelec guidelines, any private individual, incumbent officials or political candidates are prohibited to carry firearms and hire armed personnel during the congressional election.

The conduct of the election, for which the Comelec has yet to decide whether to use the PCOS machines used in 2010 or to revert to the manual system, will be supervised by Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim.
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