Pangasinan's six districts field women candidates

MANILA, Philippines - For the first time in Pangasinan’s political history, all the six congressional districts have women candidates, big names in their respective areas, who are vying for the position of congresswoman for the 2010 elections.

For the first congressional district, multi-awarded television broadcaster Maki Pulido (Ma. Judea Pulido in real name) is trying her luck in the political arena as the post will be vacated by outgoing Rep. Arthur Celeste. She is a candidate of Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)-Biskeg na Pangasinan. 

Another female congressional bet in the first district is Christine Jimenez of Aksyon Demokratiko.

They will slug it out with Burgos Mayor Domingo Doctor Jr. (NP), Vladimir Mauricio Mabalot III (independent), former Bolinao mayor Jesus Celeste (Lakas), and Danilo Dizon (LP).

Second district has Maria Blanca “Kim” Lokin, also a former television broadcaster and former party-list representative, eyeing a congressional seat under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Biskeg na Pangasinan banner, together with another woman candidate, Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani under the LP ticket.

They will be opposed by retired police general Leopoldo Bataoil (Lakas-Biskeg), Nestor Reyes (NP-Biskeg) and Arsenio Merrera (NP)

The second district congressional post will be vacated by incumbent Rep. Victor Agbayani who is making a comeback in the gubernatorial race. 

Third district has re-electionist Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, the only elected congresswoman in the 2007 elections. She is running under Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats-Biskeg na Pangasinan ticket.

She will face again lawyer Gallant Soriano under LP.

Rivals

Fourth district also has two women rivals-Gina de Venecia (NPC) and Celia Lim (Independent), for the seat to be vacated by graduating congressman Jose de Venecia Jr.

Sison town Mayor Kimi Cojuangco of the NPC is eyeing to inherit her husband’s throne in the fifth district as Rep. Mark Cojuangco is now in his last term. 

She will fight it out with Demetrio Demetria and Martin Fao-ilan, both independent bets. 

Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas of the NPC, barely in her first term chose to run for congresswoman in the sixth district for the position that will be left by three-termer Rep. Conrado Estrella III. 

Agabas will fight it out with Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. (Lakas-Biskeg) and Eduardo Libatique (PMP). 

Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election officer, said this is indeed the first time in the history of the province that in all the six congressional districts, women are trying their luck to be elected.

United front

In related developments, opposition senatorial candidate Joey de Venecia III has called on all opposition groups to put up a united front to ensure their victory over the administration bets in next year’s national elections.

De Venecia III is specifically training his sights of attempts by the famiy of President Arroyo to continue and expand their sphere of influence by taking as many seats as possible at the House of Representatives and in other electoral positions.

He said President Arroyo’s decision to run for Congress is a clear manifestation of her desire to continue with what he described as her “reign of greed” through her stranglehold of Congress.

The young De Venecia also scored the Arroyos for allegedly breaking the constitutional ban on political dynasties. “How many Arroyos do we have in the House now?” he asked. Answering his own question, De Venecia pointed to the two sons of the President - Mikey and Dato – along with her brother-in-law Iggy as members of the House.

Libanan not running

In an uncanny twist of foresight, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan rejected all calls for him to run in his district of Eastern Samar.

BI Spokesman Floro Balato Jr. said that Libanan, who spent his weekend at his home province in Eastern Samar last week, refused to be affected by the election fever. Although his constituents are urging him to regain his old seat at the House of Representatives, Balato said Libanan remained steadfast on his task at shepherding the bureau into a world-class immigration office, comparable to advanced and modern countries.

“He was even recommended by business sectors and foreign chamber officials to take a shot in the Senate under the administration party Lakas-Kampi CMD, believing that Libanan can infuse fresh ideas on legislation as what he has done in the BI,” Balato said.

However, Libanan decided to remain as the top official of the bureau and help the government in its job generating programs and promote the country as investment haven for foreigners.

He was recently cited by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for his “commitment to excellence and good governance, reforms and promotion of inward trade, investments and tourism.” No less than President Arroyo commended the positive reforms made by Libanan in the agency as the best example of governance and the private sectors working together in harmony to spur the country’s economic development.

“I think Commissioner Libanan is more focused on modernizing the bureau and to give Filipinos more job opportunities through the special visa for employment generation (SVEG),” he added.

LM picks candidates

Members of the national directorate of the political party, Lapiang Manggagawa, have asked party president lawyer Jose Malvar Villegas to convene the body to recommend the replacement of former standard bearer, Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who recently withdrew from the presidential race in 2010, to run for Congress in his hometown Zambales. The LM is a three million strong organization that is fielding candidates in the national and local levels in the coming 2010 elections.

Villegas announced the convening of the national directorate body today at the historic Manila Hotel, after they have been visiting chapters nationwide. The party’s selection committee will present to the body the nominees made by its members so that it may evaluate the contenders properly. Among the nominees so far are the following: Senator Richard Gordon, Gilbert Teodoro, Eddie Villanueva, Jamby Madrigal and Jose Lao, a balikbayan entrepreneur, no­minated by former governor and congressman of Eastern Samar Jose Ramirez who is also current LM vice president for the Visayas.

Mayor Jose Ricafrente of Rosario, Cavite who is running on his second term as mayor and his Vice Mayor Jose Rozel “Jhing-Jhing” Hernandez, are the local candidates of Cavite gubernatorial bet Jonvic Remulla, of Partido Magdalao and Nacionalista Party.

Ricafrente said their political team will score its landslide victory in the May 2010 elections, together with re-electionist Councilor Mau Luna, Pio Vivo, Cris Go, Raul Hernandez and councilor bets Val Arañas, Pomppie Enriquez, Bong Cuelto, Voltaire Ricafrente.

In General Trias, Mayor Luis “Jon-John” Ferrer IV, running under Lakas-Kampi-CMD filed his COC seeking reelection for a third term together with running mate Vice Mayor re-electionist Totie Campaña under Liberty Party and his alliance candidates Morit Sision, Ben Custodio, Noel Moreno, Fred Pozas, Richard Parin, Vivencio Lozares, Kerby Salazar and Art Tacos.

Ferrer will be challenged by mayoralty candidate Francisco Geda and former Councilor Carmelito Nocon while Campaña will face ex-councilor Felix ‘Jango’ Grepo.

1 million votes for Gibo from Cebu

Cebu province will deliver one-million votes to Lakas-Kam­pi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. in next year’s elections.

The chief legal counsel of the influential Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines, Carlos Fortuna, the vice mayor of Mandaue, said that “Mandaue and Cebu can give Gibo one-million votes in the elections.”

“Our people like Gibo for his intelligence, integrity and leadership style,” said Fortuna following a visit, the second in as many weeks, by the ruling party standard-bearer to the country’s most populous province.

Last week, in Teodoro’s first visit to Cebu, his presidential bid was endorsed by One Cebu Party headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who said the former defense chief “is hands-down the best choice among the presidential frontrunners to lead the country.”

Garcia said Cebuanos see Teodoro – a bar topnotcher and a Harvard-trained lawyer – as the “most competent and qualified presidential bet” in the 2010 elections.

Garcia said further that Teodoro “best represents One Cebu Party’s ideals of competence and excellence in public service.”  – With Roberto Dejon, Jun Elias, Evelyn Macairan, Ed Amoroso