Lapid vows to run for third term

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - An angry Gov. Lito Lapid declared yesterday that he would definitely run for a third term as governor even if he lands in jail amid speculations that the Court of Appeals (CA) is set to junk his plea against the Ombudsman's order suspending him for one year.

"Forget the idea that I will run for senator, I will vindicate myself and my constituents in Pampanga by running again for governor," Lapid told 13 mayors who all vowed to support him.

Lapid's rivals are reportedly poised to take over the helm of the provincial government as the 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the appellate court against the Ombudsman's suspension order expires today.

Sources said the appellate court, however, is not expected to issue its ruling until Wednesday, or two days after the TRO's lapse.

Last Jan. 12, the Ombudsman reaffirmed its verdict on Nov. 22 last year, suspending Lapid and three others - Vice Gov. Clayton Olalia, provincial treasurer Jovito Sabado and SPO4 Nestor Tadeo - for one year for the alleged overcharging of lahar sand quarrying fees.

Lapid was placed under preventive suspension for the same case from January to July last year.

"I have never asked you to support me in my past ordeals with the Ombudsman, but now I ask you to help me vindicate myself and the people of Pampanga," Lapid told the mayors in a meeting at the capital's executive house.

The mayors promised to mobilize their constituents to troop to the capital early tomorrow to prevent the enforcement of the one-year suspension order.

Among those who attended the meeting were the mayors of Apalit, Macabebe, Masantol, San Simon, Candaba, San Fernando, Sta. Rita, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, Magalang, Mexico, Sta. Ana and Porac. Officials of Angeles City also came to pledge their support for Lapid.

Provincial attorney Benjie Galang said, however, that Lapid's lawyers will file with the Supreme Court early tomorrow a petition for another TRO, even before the CA's ruling is received.

"The petition will just be amended as soon as the CA has made its ruling," Galang said.

Lapid has insisted that he was never involved in the alleged anomaly. His lawyers have claimed that the evidence against him are merely based on "hearsay."

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Ombudsman's Fact-Finding and Investigation Bureau filed the case against Lapid with the Sandiganbayan.

Lapid's supporters have noted that cases against the governor started to pile up after he did not support the presidential bid of President Estrada in the 1998 elections.

Lapid, who had moved to the party of former President Ramos, backed former House Speaker Jose de Venecia.