Pangasinan vice gov ‘torn between two lovers’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Re-electionist Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino feels he is "torn between two lovers."

Why not? Two gubernatorial contenders — re-electionist Gov. Victor Agbayani and former governor Rafael Colet — are both adopting him as running mate.

To make the situation worse for Lambino, second district Rep. Teodoro Cruz, who is also joining the gubernatorial fray, is also adopting him.

Lambino takes everything in stride, describing his present status as "Kasama ni Colet, kandidato rin ni Victor (Colet’s companion, Victor’s candidate, too)."

"That’s the best arrangement we can salvage out of the situation if Colet files his candidacy as the PPC (People Power Coalition) bet," said Lambino, who may run unopposed in the May polls.

Lambino, deputy provincial chairman of the Lakas-NUCD, is an ally of Agbayani. The two worked for a unified slate for the provincial board.

But the situation got confusing with Colet’s entry into the race. Asked whom he would campaign for, Lambino said he will comply with the party’s decision. "That is my duty as a partyman," he added.

Agbayani filed his certificate of candidacy under the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP yesterday. Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez, Lakas president and secretary-general, respectively, signed his nomination.

Provincial administrator Virgilio Solis said Agbayani affiliated with Lakas last Jan. 24 and subsequently got his nomination.

Colet got his PPC nomination last week.

Quoting Agbayani, Solis said, "This is democracy. Anybody who is qualified is welcome to run."

"That’s the reality and we have to live with that. We have to re-strategize," Solis added.

In 1995, Agbayani ran unopposed for vice governor under Lakas and won. In 1998, he was eased out of the gubernatorial race, although his father, former governor Aguedo Agbayani, was the Lakas provincial chairman, in favor of former Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Agbayani ran as an independent and won handily over Shahani.