MANILA-Four women are among the seven candidates vying for the congressional seat of Quezon City District 5 - Novaliches area in the May 9, 2022 elections. The female aspirants are former Congresswoman Annie Susano (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), businesswomen Rose Lin (Lakas) and Catherine Esplana, and Rose Lyn Sanchez (Independent). They are facing outgoing first-term Councilor Patrick Michael "PM" Vargas of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Angel Rustia Jr., an engineer, and Antonio Ortega (both Independent). They filed their certificate of candidacy (CoC) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office for QC-Novaliches District 5 before the deadline on Oct. 8. Susano, who was also a former QC councilor (2001-2004), was among those who represented the populous Novaliches district in Congress (2004-2010) before the area was divided into three districts (2, 5 and 6) in the 2013 local elections. It is the first time for the three other women -- Lin, Esplana and Sanchez -- to join the local political arena. Vargas, who is running under the ticket of reelectionist Mayor Joy G. Belmonte, is the younger brother of outgoing and three-term Novaliches District Rep. Alfred Vargas, who is now seeking a seat in the 36-member QC Council. Rustia and Ortega are both new in local politics. Earlier, two other outgoing 5th District councilors -- Karl Castelo and Allan Francisco -- also filed their CoC for congressman, but both withdrew. Castelo, who served as councilor for nine years (2013-2022), backed out after accepting the second representative nomination of the Marino Party-list. Francisco, a former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman of Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, had previously served three terms in the QC Council. Altogether, he has served a total of 18 years as QC councilor. In an official statement posted on his Facebook page, Francisco said he decided to withdraw from the race after undergoing a knee surgery recently He said his doctors advised him against engaging in strenuous physical activities pending the complete healing of his wounds. Heeding the same advice from his family, Francisco said he would prioritize his health for now over his political plans. He said his younger sister, Apple, is running for a city council seat to continue his public service to the people of Quezon City, particularly in Novaliches. (PNA) }