Lakas drops Joey as Congress bet

Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez’s political career is now doomed, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) executive director Joey Rufino said yesterday.

Following Marquez’s well-publicized fight with former girlfriend Kris Aquino, Rufino said it is highly unlikely for the ruling party to choose the mayor as congressional candidate in the May 2004 elections.

Marquez, who is Lakas-CMD head in Parañaque, is serving his third term as mayor and is reportedly eyeing the city’s congressional post.

But Rufino said the controversy involving Marquez and Aquino has seriously affected the former’s political career and will seriously influence the party’s decision in selecting the congressional bet.

Former President Corazon Aquino’s daughter has accused Marquez of hurting her and threatening her with a gun during a heated argument Monday.

Marquez has denied Kris’ allegations, saying she has suicidal tendencies.

"Morality is not part of the party rules but we might be criticized if we would decide to choose Marquez as our official candidate," Rufino explained.

Mrs. Aquino, he said, is a close ally of the ruling party.

The former president also played an important role in the 2001 EDSA people power revolt which catapulted President Arroyo in power.

Rufino disclosed, though, that under the party‘s rules, incumbents are favored in the choice for candidates.

As this developed, Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina said yesterday that since it is not yet conclusive if Marquez did own an unlicensed 9-mm pistol, which he allegedly used to threaten Kris during their fight, there is no valid ground yet to strip the mayor of his police escort.

For the administrative case against Marquez to prosper, the Aquinos have to file the appropriate complaint before the Office of the President.

Lina said that it is mandated by law that complaints against Metro Manila mayors and highly urbanized cities in the provinces should be filed before the Office of the President. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) merely covers local executives in the provinces.

Kris has only placed on record the alleged beatings and gun toting committed against her by Marquez but no criminal charges have been filed yet.

Although both parties have given their statements on national television during the past three days, Lina said they could not draw conclusions based on these interviews.

"They can only be used as supporting evidence, we have to authenticate them. We are an investigating body, it would be unfair to anyone if we make biased comments," Lina said. — With Evelyn Macairan