Rudy Fariñas’ son drops bid vs cousin

MANILA, Philippines – Less than a 3 weeks before the polls, Laoag City vice mayoral candidate Carlos Fariñas withdrew from the race to give way to his cousin, outgoing Mayor Michael Fariñas. 

The son of Ilocos Norte Rep Rodolfo Fariñas, accompanied by his wife and supporters, filed his motion to withdraw on Wednesday, April 24, before the local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Carlos Fariñas said in a statement he withdrew to stop the widening rift in their clan. The vice mayoral race is now between his cousin and lawyer Christian “Kris” Ablan (Lakas), son of the Fariñas clan’s longtime political rival, former Ilocos Norte Rep Roque Ablan.

The botched vice-mayoral race between the cousins was the sideshow in the heated race between the two factions of the Fariñas family.

The outgoing mayor’s wife Chevylle and his uncle former Mayor Roger Fariñas are running against each other for city mayor. (READ: Trouble in Laoag: Fariñas vs Fariñas)

The Fariñas clan has dominated Laoag City politics for decades. Rudy Fariñas offered to make Carlos run for mayor to avoid a faceoff between Chevylle and Roger, but that didn’t materialize.

It would even have been more interesting had former Ilocos Norte Gov. Michael Keon pushed through with his mayoral bid. But he, too, had withdrawn from the race. (READ: Marcos cousin quits mayoral race)

Rep Rudy Fariñas is running unopposed in the 1st District. Former First Lady and incumbent Rep. Imelda Marcos is in a 3-way race in the 2nd District against lawyer Ferdinand Ignacio and Lorenzo Madamba.

Gov. Imee Marcos, who is backing Chevylle Fariñas, and Vice Gov. Angelo Barba are also unopposed. – Rappler.com