Batangas, Philippines – Prominent families of the Ermitas and the Apacibles will clash again in the next election, renewing their political rivalry that started in 1992.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Thursday formally filed his certificate of candidacy at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Batangas for the first district of the province against Tomas "Tom" Apacible.

Apacible, a former customs commissioner during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino, is a businessman who comes from a family of politicans.

The two families started its rivalry when Secretary Ermita ran and won against Tom's brother Conrado “Dong” Apacible in the 1st congressional district of Batangas in 1992.

Ermita was then with presidential aspirant Fidel Ramos while Apacible was with Ramon Mitra. Ramos and Ermita both won as president and congressman respectively.

In 1995, Ermita won re-election against Dong Apacible.

After three years, Dong Apacible fielded his wife Charito against Secretary Ermita, with the latter winning his last term as congressman in the 1st district of Batangas.

Daughters run, too

In 2001, Secretary Ermita convinced his daughter Eileen Ermita-Buhain to run against Charito Apacible, which the younger Ermita won.

Ermita-Buhain ran and won unopposed in the 2004 elections, and won against Raymond Apacible in 2007 election.

Before the last-minute filing of the certificate of candidacy last December 1, Secretary Ermita’s younger daughter Lisa Ermita-Abad filed for a congressional bid in the hopes of replacing her sister, Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, who is on her third and last term as congresswoman.

Ermita said the family decided to change plans and substitute himself as candidate while maintaining his post as executive secretary.

“I’m already 74, but I still want to remain in public service” Ermita told reporters. He said he will not resign from his position, citing the Supreme Court's latest ruling which says appointed officials running need not resign.

Supreme Court ruling

Meanwhile, in a press conference with Tom Apacible, said he was not surprised with the move of the executive secretary, saying it was just a political strategy.

He said Ermita just waited for the decision of the Supreme Court, which ruled that appointed officials who filed their candidacy need not resign their positions.

The Comelec said that substitute filing is allowed until December 14. Substitution of independent candidates, however, is not allowed.

The Comelec said that a candidate who gets sick, dies or gets disqualified prior to the election can be substituted until midday of the voting day, but they can only be replaced by a candidate of the same party.

Asked what will be his edge against Secretary Ermita, Apacible said: "Sawa na ang mga tao sa mga Ermita, 18 years na silang nagsilbi sa 1st district ng Batangas pero hindi naman nila nairepresinta ng mabuti ang mga tao."

Apacible recently left the Nacionalista Party and joined the Liberal Party.

Ermita and Apacible are the only candidates who filed candidacy papers in the first district.