Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone (L) and Cebu’s 3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia. | PHOTO: Official Facebook pages of Everdone and Garcia
TACLOBAN CITY — The final day of filing certificates of candidacy (CoC) for the 2025 national and local elections brought some unexpected twists.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone withdrew his CoC for reelection to serve as a “volunteer” for the senatorial candidates of the ruling party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
Like Evardone, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district also withdrew his CoC at the last minute to study law abroad and write a book.
Evardone, who first served as governor in 2004, went to the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) around 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 to withdraw his CoC, just an hour before the deadline.
Evardone was substituted by his son, Ralph Vincent “RV,” who earlier filed his CoC as councilor.
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Ralph will face Quinapondan Mayor Rafael Asebias in the gubernatorial race.
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“To set the record straight and put all speculations to rest, I have chosen to set aside my political ambitions to assist the administration’s programs and projects, especially in ensuring the victory of its senatorial candidates,” Evardone said.
In a separate statement, Ralph Vincent Evardone said he accepted the challenge of running for governor “with all humility.”
“It is both a privilege and a welcome opportunity to serve the people of Eastern Samar and to build on my father’s legacy,” the younger Evardone said.
“I am called to assume a higher responsibility, and I am ready to serve. I am confident that I have the passion, drive, and youthful energy to pursue the mission and vision for Eastern Samar,” he added.
Governor Evardone served Eastern Samar from 2004 to 2010 before running for congressman, a position he held for three terms. He returned as governor in 2022.
Cebu
In Cebu, Garcia, brother of reelectionist Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, also withdrew his CoC for what could have been another term in Congress.
He was substituted by his wife, Karen Flores-Garcia, a political neophyte who would be running unopposed.
Garcia said he decided to step back to focus on career advancement and personal projects that had been delayed due to his duties in the House of Representatives.
These include continuing his studies in law and public administration abroad and writing a book about Cebu’s political landscape and history.
“The political unity we have achieved in all the municipalities and one city in the district has given rise to an opportunity for me to pursue two decades-old dreams that I’ve had to put aside because of work: Pursue higher studies in law and public administration abroad, and write a volume on Cebu’s political history from the perspective of both an observer and an active participant,” said Garcia.
He said the mayors in his district in endorsing his wife as the substitute candidate, believed she could continue the work that he started.
“I’m excited to step in plus he loved this work very much and I’d like to know what this is all about. Also, I feel like it’s coming in a full circle because I’ve been a reporter for many years and now I’m on the other side and now, coming to this side that would be exciting,” said Flores-Garcia.
Flores-Garcia was a former journalist who graduated from the University of the Philippines Cebu with a degree in Mass Communication and a Master’s in Public Management from the same university.
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She was a senior reporter for SunStar Cebu for nine years and a correspondent for a national paper covering politics and governance before she married Garcia in 2004.
