By HENRY EMPEÑO

IBA, Zambales — As one catchy slogan puts it, it’s Ebdane all the way to 2025. This, as Governor Hermogenes “Jun” Ebdane Jr. stands unchallenged for another gubernatorial term in the May local elections next year.

Gov. Ebdane filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) on Oct. 2, accompanied by wife Alma, sons Board Member Jun Runstedt and Botolan Mayor Jun Omar, as well as political allies Vice Governor Jacqueline Rose Khonghun and Zambales Second District Representative Doris “Bing” Maniquiz.

Filing under the banner of his homegrown Sulong Zambales Party (SZP), Ebdane is seeking a third and final term to continue with his program of progressive community service and inclusive development in Zambales.

As the filing of candidacies at the Commission on Elections office here closed on Oct. 8, the incumbent governor, along with several political allies remained unopposed. These include his running mate, incumbent Vice Gov. Jaq Khonghun, and incumbent Congressman Jay Khonghun—the vice governor’s brother—of the First District of Zambales.

Ayta leader Chito Balintay Sr., has reportedly filed a CoC for governor late in the afternoon of Oct. 8, but it was rejected by the Comelec, first, because it lacked documentary stamps, and, later, when Balintay did not beat the 5:00 p.m. filing deadline.

At the Second District, Rep. Maniquiz is being challenged by former congresswoman Cheryll Deloso-Montalla. Deloso ran against Gov. Ebdane in the 2022 gubernatorial race, but lost by 66,395 votes.

Among the mayoralty aspirants, three incumbents are also running without competition: Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun of Castillejos, the political clan’s patriarch; Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane of Botolan, the youngest among the Ebdane politicians; and Mayor Elmer Soria of San Marcelino.

Interestingly, their respective running mates, Vice Mayor Christian Esposo, incumbent Councilor Edmund Dante Perez, and Vice Mayor Christopher Gongora, are also unopposed.

Another Sulong Zambales member without any challenger is Vice Mayor Joan Ballesteros of Iba, who is seeking reelection.

The SZP has fielded a full slate for the provincial board and gained the support of majority of the incumbent mayors and aspiring candidates in Zambales for the coming elections.

CLEAR VISION

In seeking another term, Ebdane is leveraging on the accomplishments of his administration in developing the local economy and building community infrastructures that modernized the provincial landscape while improving the delivery of government services to the people.

Under Ebdane, Zambales earned the distinction of having the second highest year-on-year growth in local-sourced income among all provinces in 2022. The Ebdane administration topped this honor with having the fifth highest local-sourced revenue to total current operating income among all provinces for 2023.

“My vision for Zambales is clear (and) the path toward that vision is promising. I can see the future now. It excites me to think that this is the direction that we will pursue in the next three years,” Ebdane said when he filed his CoC.

“We will fight and continue with what we have started for the sake of our people…Join me to lift up Zambales further,” he added.

In the coming years, Ebdane said the provincial government will complete a massive infrastructure development program that will redefine government service delivery in the province. These include a new Capitol building, expansion of the President Ramon Memorial Hospital, construction of the Zambales Sports Complex Track and Football Stadium, and an annex building for the Balin Sambali government center.

Governor Ebdane, who is formerly Chief of the Philippine National Police, Secretary of National Defense, and Secretary of Public Works and Highways, first became Zambales chief executive in 2010. He also won the gubernatorial seat in the local elections of 2013, 2019 and 2022. — Taktikom News & Features