Colorful days ahead in Central Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The list of candidates in Central Luzon hints of a colorful and controversial campaign season in the run-up to the May 10 elections.

This, as Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, regional police director, appealed to all candidates not to give in to the New People’s Army’s demand for "campaign fees" to gain access to areas supposedly under their influence.

He said the police are particularly monitoring candidates in Bataan where some areas are known to be "NPA-influenced."

"I am asking the candidates to seek security assistance from the police instead if they want to campaign in areas which they believe are under NPA influence. I assure them protection," Querol said.

Unusual Alliance In Zambales

In Zambales, the Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats’ (CMD) official candidate, incumbent Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, is running tandem with Vice Gov. Ramon Lucbain of the Koalisyon ng Nagka—kaisang Pilipino (KNP). Theirs, however, is an unusual alliance.

Although they are allies under a local coalition in their bids for re-election, Magsaysay will campaign for President Arroyo, and Lacbain for action star Fernando Poe Jr.

This, amid the confusion on who among the two sets of Lakas-CMD officials in the 13 Zambales towns are the official candidates of the administration party.

Lacbain told The STAR that last Jan. 3, Dante Marcelo, legal officer of the Lakas-CMD’s national directorate, asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to withdraw the authority of Magsaysay, the provincial Lakas-CMD chairman, to "sign and execute certificates of nomination and acceptance" of Lakas’ official local candidates.

"The request was made by Rep. James Gordon," Lacbain said.

Gordon, who represents Zambales’ first district, is a brother of Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

Thus, former vice governor Cheryl Deloso filed her candidacy for governor, with former vice governor Saturnino Bactad as her running mate.

Magsaysay and second district Rep. Roberto Torres protested this, prompting Marcelo to write another letter to the Comelec last Jan. 5 withdrawing Gordon’s authority to nominate official Lakas-CMD candidates.

Lacbain said higher Comelec authorities have yet to issue a final clarification on the issue.

Torres is seeking re-election, challenged by Antonio Diaz of Aksyon Demokratiko.

In the first congressional district, Olongapo City Mayor Katherine Gordon is pitted against Mitos Magsaysay (independent), daughter of Gov. Magsaysay. James Gordon opted to run for Olongapo City mayor.

‘Star-Struck’ In Pampanga

With action star Gov. Lito Lapid in the Lakas-CMD’s senatorial slate, his 25-year-old son Mark, who is also a movie actor, is running as the administration party’s official gubernatorial bet, with basketball coach Joseller "Yeng" Guiao as running mate.

Mark is being challenged by fourth district Rep. Rimpy Bondoc with provincial board member Edna David as running mate, and second district Rep. Zenaida Ducut who is in tandem with former vice governor Clayton Olalia. Bondoc and Ducut both belong to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Another movie star, character actor Roi Vinzons, is aspiring for vice governor. In 2001, he initially filed his candidacy for vice governor but eventually gave way to Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo.

In the fourth district, veteran movie actor Tony Ferrer is running for Congress under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Pampanga’s congressional candidates include: re-electionist Rep. Francis Nepomuceno (NPC) and Janette Lazatin (Lakas-CMD), first district; Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo (Lakas-CMD) and Porac Vice Mayor Rey Lapid (PMP), second district; San Fernando Mayor Reynaldo Aquino (Lakas-CMD), Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo (Lakas-CMD) and provincial board member Dinan Labung (Buklod Kapampangan), third district.

Popular BulakeñOs’kin In The Running

The late Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan, police general Romeo Maganto and the late Rep. Teodulo Nati—vidad share something in common in the Bulacan polls: their close relatives are gunning for top posts.

Re-electionist Gov. Josefina de la Cruz (Lakas-CMD) is being challenged by Maganto’s son Rommel.

De la Cruz’s running mate, Roberto Pagdanganan Jr., is the agrarian reform secretary’s son. Pagdanganan is being challenged by Aurelio Flamenco (PMP).

Chito Natividad (Lakas-Kampi), the late congressman’s son, is running for mayor of Malolos City, against Vicente Cruz (PMP) and incumbent Mayor Daniel Domingo (Lakas-CMD).

In Bulacan’s first district, Raul Ople, the late foreign affairs secretary’s brother, is seeking a congressional seat under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).

The other congressional candidates in Bulacan are re-electionist Rep. Wilfrido Villarama (Lakas-CMD) and Delfin Wenceslao (independent), first district; Pablo Pancho (PMP) and incumbent Rep. Willy Sy Alvarado (Lakas-CMD), second district; incumbent Rep. Lorna Silvestre (Lakas-CMD), Constantino Pascual (NPC) and Purita Trajano (independent), third district; and Conrad Marjano (PMP) and incumbent Rep. Reynaldo Nicoles (Lakas-CMD), fourth district.

In the recently created lone congressional district of San Jose del Monte City, there are five aspirants: Mayor Rey Roquero (Lakas-CMD), Roy Mendoza (Liberal Party), Oscar Rolez (PMP) and independents Gesse Gonzalez and Reynold Villar.

3 Challengers Versus Noynoy

Of Tarlac’s three congressmen, only Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, son of national hero Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, has rivals in the coming polls.

Fellow Tarlac Reps. Gilberto Teodoro (first district) and Jesli Lapus (second district), both NPC members, are both running unopposed.

Noynoy is being challenged by Eduardo Caymo (Isang Bayan, Isang Diwa), Rollie Bulatao (PDP-Laban) and George de los Reyes (independent).

Incumbent Gov. Jose Yap Sr. (NPC) is seeking re-election against Visayas Apostol (Lakas-CMD), Liboro de Jesus (Kampi) and Nicolas Feliciano (independent).

Vice Gov. Marcelino Aganon is also seeking re-election, challenged by Guillermo Tapano (Lakas-CMD), Arturo Tacum (Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa) and Carlos Carpio (independent).

4-Cornered Gov Fight In Bataan

Among all Central Luzon provinces, Bataan is the only one with a gubernatorial bet belonging to the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.

The left-leaning party has fielded Zenaida Gonzalez against last-term Rep. Enrique Garcia (Lakas-CMD), Ramzon Cordero (Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa) and Remedios Balbino (independent).

Last-term Gov. Leonardo Roman (NPC) is running for congressman in Bataan’s second district against Abel Garcia (Lakas-CMD). In the first district, Antonio Roman (LP) is running against Gaudencio Ferrer (Lakas-CMD).