LAGUNA ­– Former television journalist Sol Aragones and Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez are among four aspirants for governor of Laguna in the 2025 midterm elections.gbet

The other aspirants are Vice Gov. Karen Agapay and Rep. Ruth Hernandez, wife of incumbent Gov. Ramil Hernandez.

Agapay, Aragones and Hernandez filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) before the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Sta. Cruz City on Monday.

Fernandez filed his COC on Sunday along with his running mate, former actress Gem Castillo.

Aragones, a former congresswoman and founder of Akay ni Sol party-list, said she would focus on improving the health service and provide scholarships to students, if elected.

In Batangas, Leandro Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Lagarda and former governor Antonio Leviste, yesterday filed his COC for the province’s first congressional district.

Leviste, 31, will run against incumbent Rep. Eric Buhain. Leviste founded Solar Philippines in 2013, currently the largest solar company and integrated solar developer in Southeast Asia.

In Cavite, Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla and his sister, Vice Mayor Rowena Bautista-Mendiola, filed their COCs for a second term in office.

Baguio City Mayor Magalong yesterday filed his COC for a third and final term in office, ending speculation that he is eyeing a Senate seat in the 2025 midterm elections.

Running under the banner of good governance alliance, Magalong said he would base his campaign on the core values of transparency and service that define his administration.

Baguio Rep. Mark Go and outgoing Councilor Benny Bomogao are challenging Magalong’s reelection bid.

In Pampanga, Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda and her son, Gov. Dennis Pineda, filed their COCs for governor and vice governor, respectively.

The Pinedas will be running against former Candaba mayor Danilo Baylon and governor Ed Panlilio.

In Pangasinan, Representatives Mark Cojuangco and Rachel Arenas of the second and third districts are seeking reelection as well as Candon City Mayor Eric Singson in Ilocos Sur.

Six people were injured when trouble broke out during the last day of the filing of COCs in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.

Two groups of men reportedly fired shots and hurled stones at each other when a man with pending criminal cases tried to file COC for the vice mayoral post.

Reports said the local Comelec office failed to process the COC of the applicant for lack of documents.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has deployed additional police officers in Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija in preparation for the 2025 midterm elections.

Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Central Luzon police director, said the deployment was due to poll-related violence that occurred in these provinces in the past elections.

Up to 350 additional police officers were deployed on Monday, including 150 in Bulacan, 100 in Nueva Ecija and the rest in Pampanga. — Artemio Dumlaogbet, Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon, Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Arnell Ozaeta, Cesar Ramirez

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