Floirendo decides to give way to uncle

DAVAO CITY – Family unity ultimately prevailed as Davao del Norte second district Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. announced yesterday that he was backing out of the gubernatorial race in favor of his uncle, Presidential Assistant for New Government Centers Rodolfo del Rosario.

Floirendo, who is on his third and last term, lamented how certain sectors in the province have been trying to divide their family by fielding his uncle against him.

"With this development, and after talking to my brothers and sisters, I wish to announce that I have decided not to run for governor of Davao del Norte. I believe that is the best thing for me to do right now so that I may spare my parents, especially my father, from witnessing the disintegration of all that we have worked so hard to build," Floirendo said in a statement.

Del Rosario only decided last Monday to run against Floirendo, who was earlier the personal choice of the family patriarch and banana magnate Don Antonio Floirendo Sr. as gubernatorial candidate.

Actually, it was Del Rosario’s son, Anthony, the incumbent vice governor, who was initially groomed to run for governor.

Anthony was forced to give way to his congressman-cousin when the 93-year-old Floirendo patriarch announced his choice during a gathering at the family-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation (TADECO) complex in Panabo, Davao del Norte last week.

In fact, Anthony had already filed his certificate of candidacy for governor when the elder Floirendo picked his congressman-cousin as gubernatorial bet.

Del Rosario earlier told The STAR he was bent on running for governor even it meant being pitted against his nephew and would result in a family feud, because he could not turn his back on the people who wanted him to run.

Floirendo, meanwhile, said a professional demolition crew out to divide their family could be behind his uncle’s running against him.

"For the record, it was not my decision to run for governor. Personally I was content to support the candidacy of my cousin, Vice Gov. Anthony del Rosario, who many thought was next in line to become governor. Unfortunately in politics nothing is ever handed to you in a silver platter, and in our family the final go-ahead for any candidacy has always rested solely with my father," he said.

Floirendo said he decided to give way to his uncle to keep the family intact. "We have to stay strong as a family," he said.

"Like Anthony before me, I choose our family. My or my father’s political ambitions pale in comparison to the importance of keeping our clan intact. This decision does not come easy, not because I desire the position, but simply because after all these years I truly wanted to have an opportunity to make my father proud," he added.

Del Rosario, for his part, said he is filing his certificate of candidacy today, the deadline set by the Commission on Elections.

Another member of the Floirendo clan, Anton Lagdameo, grandson of the elder Floirendo, filed yesterday his certificate of candidacy for second district congressman.