By Ben Serrano

MOST of Surigao del Sur’s officials would be seeking reelection next year, the province’s governor, Johnny Pimentel, told The Gold Star Daily.

Pimentel said the officials who would seek reelection include all incumbent mayors, vice mayors down to municipal councilors.

“We are already prepared. Kumpleto na line-up namo from municipal councilors, provincial board members, mayors. Most of them are with us, under one political party. The machinery and the logistics have already been prepared,” Pimentel said.

He said he would seek reelection, too, “with or without opponents… rain or shine.”

Pimentel comes from a political family. His brother, former Surigao del Sur governor Vicente Pimentel Jr., is the mayor Carrascal, one of the biggest towns in the province. His younger brother, Alexander Pimentel, is the mayor of Tandag City.

“I am going to finish what I started and that is to bring economic development and opportunities to our people. In fact, we’ve just ‘graduated’ and was delisted from the 20 poorest provinces in the country. Our economic growth is among the fastest among provinces in the region as our income doubled,” he said.

Pimentel said Vice Gov. Manuel Alameda Sr., a former mayor of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, would be his running mate next year.
He said his group would also field Philip Pichay as candidate for congressman in the province’s 1st District.

He said that while Pichay is with the Lakas and he is a member of the administration Liberal Party, they could not just sever their political ties.

“Let’s accept that the Pichays have their own followers and we can’t just neglect that. They have served Surigao del Sur long enough and well,” he said.