Masbate’s Kho Family files for various posts as city mayor vies for province’s top political seat

The Kho family of Masbate — led by Antonio Kho alongside his wife and three children — filed certificates of candidacy for different government positions across the province on Thursday, October 3. 

Antonio Kho has been serving as the governor of Masbate for 17 years now, from 1998 to 2007 and from 2016 until the present. Prior to his run as a governor, he also served as the 3rd district representative from 1992 until 1995. 

The Kho family ran under the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats political party.

Kho’s wife, outgoing Vice Governor Elisa “Olga” Kho runs for the 2nd district representative title, while their son Congressman Wilton “Tonton” Kho seeks reelection as the province’s 3rd district representative.

Their son, incumbent 1st district representative Richard Kho, seeks to replace his father as Masbate Province governor while his sister, Ara Kho, current 2nd district representative, files for mayoral candidacy in Masbate City.

In an ambush interview with Ara Kho after filing her COC, she shared that she ran as the city’s mayor because she feels the need to “upgrade.”

For mayoral candidate Kho, Masbate City does not feel like a ‘city’ and it needs to “look and feel like a city” which became one of the reasons for her candidacy. 

This year, outgoing Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason, meanwhile, will compete with Richard Kho for the governor position. Tuason filed under the Liberal Party (LP), a shift from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) last elections.

During the 2022 elections, Tuason was the lone candidate for the city’s top post, while Richard Kho won against another candidate for the 3rd district representative position.

In the opposition for the Masbate City mayor position is Masbate’s Sangguniang Panlungsod Ruby Sanchez-Morano, running under the same party and alliance as governor aspirant Tuason. – Rappler.com