The Abante Bohol coalition denied claims that it fielded a guest candidate for Provincial Board Member in Bohol’s 1st District during the May 12 local and national elections.
The clarification came after reports surfaced alleging that Dr. Mutya Tirol, who won a seat on the Provincial Board, ran as a guest candidate under the Abante Bohol banner.
Stephen Rances, campaign manager of Abante Bohol, issued a statement categorically denying any affiliation with Tirol.
He reiterated that the coalition’s official candidates for Provincial Board Member in the 1st District were Goldie Herrera, Lucille Lagunay, and Willy Ramasola.
Rances said that only the names of Herrera, Lagunay, and Ramasola appeared on Abante Bohol’s official sample ballots distributed during the campaign.
Gov. Aris Aumentado, the coalition’s top-endorsed candidate, was out of the country and on tour in Europe when the news surfaced. He has not issued a statement on the matter.
Rances added that all endorsements made by the coalition followed internal agreements and standard procedures.
“We respect the results of the election and congratulate all the winners,” Rances said. “However, we also feel the need to correct any misinformation suggesting we endorsed a guest candidate in the 1st District. That claim is false.”