‘Dragon’ vying for Abra gov

BANGUED, Abra — Remember "Dragon," one of the "inside negotiators" of former Flagship Programs Secretary Robert Aventajado in the Abu Sayyaf hostage-taking last year?

Dragon or Ernesto Pacuño, a former Constabulary officer, is vying for governor of this northern province, pitting himself against Rep. Vicente Valera, head of an entrenched political clan here.

Pacuño is running under the Lakas-NUCD, while Valera is with the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).

Valera’s wife, outgoing Gov. Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera, is banking on her popularity with the women sector to bag the mayorship of this vote-rich capital town.

Valera has allied with Vice Gov. Luis Bersamin Jr. whom he is fielding for the province’s lone congressional district. The Lakas bets, on the other hand, are lawyer Rodolfo Millare for congressman and re-electionist Bangued Mayor Ramon Purugganan. — Teddy Molina