Guintu Files COC for Capiz 1st District Seat

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Pinuno party-list Representative Howard Guintu filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Thursday, October 3, for the position of representative of Capiz’s 1st District with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Guintu was accompanied by three candidates running for provincial board member in the 1st District: incumbent board member Jose Fulgencio “Pepe” del Rosario, Dr. Gualberto Bernas III, and Panay Vice Mayor Amy Asis. They all submitted their COCs at Robinsons Place-Roxas, the designated venue by the Comelec.

The group was joined by former Governor Antonio del Rosario, incumbent Mayors Arnold Perez of Pilar and Receliste Tanoy Escolin of Pres. Roxas, as well as former Mayors Jose “Jojie” Avelino III of Pontevedra and Leodegario Labao Jr. of Mambusao, along with a large group of supporters.

In a media interview, Guintu stated that his group had the support of the current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Guintu emphasized that many issues in the 1st District had been neglected by previous administrations. He pointed to the lack of improvement in the seaport in Barangay Culasi and the airport in Barangay Baybay, for which he had recently requested funding from the national government.

Guintu will be facing political newcomer Paolo Roxas, son of former Senator Mar Roxas, in the upcoming congressional race.