Local elections were held in Bohol on May 9, 2016, as part of the 2016 Philippine general election. Registered voters elected leaders for local positions: a city or town mayor, vice mayor and town councilors, as well as three to four members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice-governor, governor and three representatives for the three districts of Bohol.
By the end of voters' registration last October 2015, the total number of registered voters in Bohol is 798,768.[1][2] There is 2.96% or equivalent to 22,983 increase in the number of voters registered from 775,785 voter population last 2013.[3]
37 hopefuls filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for 15 provincial elective positions in time for the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy on October 16, 2012. Based on the official list of provincial Commission on Elections, 5 aspirants run for governor, 2 for vice-governors, 23 for provincial board members, and 7 for congressman in three districts.[4] Also in the whole province, there 104 candidates for mayor, 103 aspirants are vying for vice mayor, and 812 bets for municipal or city councilor.[5]
Atty. Dionisio D. Balite, a seasoned public servant whose political career spans fifty years starting out as town councilor and then municipal mayor of his hometown of Valencia, is the newly elected Vice-Governor of Bohol. Balite had served several terms as Senior Board Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). He had one more term left in the SP, when he decided it was time to vie for the vice-governorship. Up until then, the incumbent Vice-Governor did not face any strong contender for the position.
Arthur Yap is the incumbent. He is vying for his third and last term as congressman. Former Carmen mayor Conchita Toribio-delos Reyes challenged him for the seat. This is also the first time that Yap is running with an opponent.[9]
Philippine House of Representatives election at Bohol's 3rd district
All municipalities of Bohol and Tagbilaran City elected mayor, vice-mayor and councilors this election. The mayor and vice mayor with the highest number of votes win the seat; they are voted separately, therefore, they may be of different parties when elected. Below is the list of Mayoral and vice-Mayoral candidates of each city and municipalities in three districts.[10]
Efren Tungol and Cayetano Doria Jr. are the incumbents. Tungol withdrew his candidacy before the deadline last December 10, 2015 and nominated his youngest son Alfren Charles Tungol as a mayoral candidate under LP.[8] On the other hand, incumbent vice-mayor Cayetano Doria Jr. is running unopposed.
Incumbent Mayor and Bohol First Lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto is seeking her first full term. Elected as vice mayor in 2013, Veloso-Chatto assumed the mayorship upon the death of then Mayor Dominisio "Domie" Chatto on July 23, 2015. Her running mate is former first councilor and incumbent Vice Mayor Edgar Asilo, who assumed the vice mayorship as provided by law.
Incumbent mayor Sulpicio Yu Jr. is running for vice-mayor unopposed. He switched with his brother, incumbent vice-mayor Nelson Yu who is now vying for mayor of the town.[12]
Incumbent mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez is now running for vice-mayor in exchange with incumbent vice-mayor Elvi Peter Relampagos, who is vying for mayor of the town.[12]
Incumbent Niño Rey Boniel is on his third term and is ineligible to run. He is running for 2nd District board member[14] His wife, Gisela Bendong-Boniel is running in his place.
Incumbent mayor Natividad Gonzaga is not running. Her son, incumbent vice-mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga is running for mayor unopposed.[16] However, the latter Gonzaga died on May 6, 2016, 3 days before election at age 46. Incumbent mayor Natividad Gonzaga is expected to substitute on her son's vacated seat.[17]
Incumbent mayor Claudio C. Bonior is ineligible for reelection due to term-limits. His party nominated incumbent vice-mayor Jonathan Reyes for mayor. On the other hand, incumbent first councilor Faustino Bulaga is vying for vice-mayor unopposed.