BUTUAN CITY — Two vice presidential bets and 10 senatorial aspirants got the nod of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the official candidates in the May 2010 elections, this was learned Monday.

Comelec said the two vice presidential bets from Mindanao are Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. (Bangon Pilipinas) of Davao City and TV personality Jose “Jay” Y. Sonza (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

The Comelec also approved the candidacies of 10 Mindanaoans in the senatorial race. They are Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Rodrigo “Ompong” Plaza (NPC), Nereus O. Acosta, Jr., of Bukidnon (LP), Shariff Ibrahim H. Albani (KBL), Zafrullah M. Alonto of Lanao del Sur (Bangon Pilipinas), Teofisto D. Guingona III (LP), Yasmin Busran-Lao of Lanao del Sur (LP), Gwendolyn D. Pimentel of Cagayan de Oro (PDP-Laban), Adel A. Tamano of Lanao del Sur (NP), Manuel E. Valdehuesa, Jr., of Cagayan de Oro City (Ang Kapatiran) and Silvestre H. Bello III of Davao City (Lakas).

Rep. Plaza, a successful businessman, is the son of the late former Congressman and Gov. Democrito Plaza and former Gov. Valentina Plaza. He authored several bills in the House of Representatives like LPG bill. He also contributed to making Agusan del Sur province more developed, progressive and economically and globally competitive. In unison, Caraganons and different organizations in Northeastern Mindanao favorably endorsed the son of Agusan in the senatorial race this May 2010 elections.

Bello was a former executive secretary of then Davao City Mayor Luis Santos before the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983. He also led the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All chapter in Davao City and after EDSA was made justice undersecretary. He later became justice secretary and until recently was Cabinet secretary.