BAGUIO CITY: There will be one less vice gubernatorial candidate and one replacement for the board membership position in the local elections.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Provincial Board Member Rogelio Leon, has withdrawn his candidacy for the vice gubernatorial post.

He initially filed his certificate of candidacy under the National Unity Party.

Leon cited health reasons for his withdrawal.

According to him, after the filing of his certificate of candidacy in October, he was confined on the 3rd week of October and again on the 2nd week of November this year.

Both Leon and his wife decided that they will not compromise health for politics. Leon was a three-term, multi-awarded mayor of the town of Kapa-ngan before being elected as a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

There are now three candidates left in contention for the vice gubernatorial post—Apolinario Camsol, Liberal Democratic Party; Nelson Dangwa, Liberal Party (LP); and Juan Nazarro Molintas, United Nationalist Alliance.

Poll body sources added that the LP will be substituting Faustino Mallones, replacing Marcelino Mallones as sangguniang panlalawigan candidate for the 2nd district of the province.

There are twelve other Sangguniang Panlalawigan candidates for the 2nd district of Benguet: Ricardo Angluben, LP; Concecion Balao, National United Party (NUP); Fernando Balaodan, LP; Jim Botiwey, LP; Loreto Buya-an, Independent; Nardo Cayat, NUP; Jack Dulnuan, NUP; Rodrigo Kito, Independent; Vicente Kitongan, NUP; Robert Namoro, NUP; Benito Ticbayan Jr., Kalinis and Florence Tingbaoen, NUP.

For the 1st district, 10 have filed their intention to run: Fernando Aritao, LP; Raymund Celino, Independent; Alfonso Fianza, NUP; Francisco Golingab, Independent; Amado Hipol, Independent; Jerry Marave, LP; Amonario Moresto, LP; Esteban Piok, NUP; Ben Saguid, NUP; and Johnny Waguis, NUP.

The Benguet gubernatorial post will be a toss between Nestor Fongwan, NUP; and Jerome Selmo, LP.