LINGAYEN, Philippines-—Three former police and military generals and a TV reporter will be among the new faces in Pangasinan’s congressional races next year.

They are former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., former Philippine National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao, retired police Director Leopoldo Bataoil and TV journalist Makibaka “Maki” Pulido, who will all be vying for elective offices for the first time.

Pulido, a native of the island town of Anda, was the latest addition to the province’s congressional hopefuls.

Her mother, Board Member Alice Pulido, announced on Monday that her daughter has decided to run in the first district, which will be vacated by Rep. Arthur Celeste.

“She has resigned from GMA 7 last week and she has begun to go around the district to appear before gatherings where she’s been invited,” Board Member Pulido said.

The young Pulido will be the first woman congressional candidate in the district. Her opponents include Celeste’s brother, former Bolinao Mayor Jesus Celeste and Board Member Danilo Dizon.

Bataoil will run in the second district, which will be vacated by Rep. Victor Agbayani, who has opted to run for governor next year.

Bataoil’s possible opponents include former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Rep. Kim Bernardo Lokin, Board Members Von Mark Mendoza and Nestor Reyes, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Lomibao, now the Land Transportation Office chief, will face Gina de Venecia, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.’s wife, in the race.

The fight between Esperon, now chief of the Presidential Management Staff, and Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas in the sixth district has become the most closely watched congressional race in the province.

This is because Esperon has become visible in the district, where he has been holding job fairs, medical missions and a series of meetings bringing with him different government agencies.

But local political observers said Agabas, the district’s board member for three terms before she was elected vice governor, is heavily favored in the district.

In the fifth district, which will be vacated by Rep. Mark Cojuangco, Sison Mayor Kimi Cojuangco, the lawmaker’s wife, appeared unopposed in next year’s congressional race. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon