Aurora, Ecija voters tired of relatives running in tandem

MANILA, Philippines - Enough of the Angara-Angara, Joson-Joson and Umali-Umali tandems in Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

This province, considered the fiefdoms of the Angaras, abandoned the Angara-Angara tandem after re-electionist Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo decided to tap Board Member Danilo Tolentino as her running mate in the 2010 elections.

The Angaras fielded an Angara-Angara tandem in 2007 when Angara-Castillo, seeking second term, tapped as her vice governor her nephew, Rommel. Angara-Castillo won by landslide over university professor Ruben dela Cruz but Rommel lost to lawyer Gerardo Noveras.

Rommel was expected to run anew for vice governor to avenge the setback to Noveras or at least run for board member but surprisingly opted not to run for any public office.

Rommel told The STAR that his decision not to run was the result of much soul-searching and reflection. “Many things were considered in my deciding not to run. I could have chosen to run for vice governor anew but for the meantime, I thought it best for me not to seek any elective position,” he said, adding that he would concentrate on his work as chief aide of re-electionist Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

Over in Nueva Ecija, the Umalis and Josons, the two leading political dynasties in the province, decided to drop the Joson-Joson and Umali-Umali tandems, the latter due to adverse criticisms from their own partymates.

Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson, the standard-bearer for governor of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija has tapped Senior Board Member Rommel Padilla as his running mate, ending 12 years of a Joson-Joson team.

Not power-hungry

The Josons started fielding the Joson-Joson duo in 1998 when Edward Thomas’ father Tomas III ran for a second term with Eduardo IV as his running mate. After their twin victories, they ran for re-election in 2001.

In 2004, Tomas III ran for a last term with Mariano Cristino as running mate and in 2007, Mariano Cristino ran for governor with Edward Thomas as his running mate.

San Antonio Mayor Arvin Salonga, a staunch ally of the Josons said the emergence of a different tandem only goes to show that the Josons are not power-hungry as portrayed by their critics.

In the case of the Umalis, re-electionist Gov. Aurelio Umali, who ended the 48-year reign of the Josons in the Capitol with a 2007 victory over Mariano Cristino, has tapped businessman Gay Padiernos as his running mate, effectively ending speculations it would be his younger brother Emmanuel Antonio who would be his vice governor.

Emmanuel Antonio instead is running for board member in the third congressional district.

A source close to the Umalis said that the governor never really intended to field his brother but this was were speculation after streamers of the younger Umali sprouted all over the province, even in areas outside of the third congressional district.

But another source said the governor decided against fielding Emmanuel Antonio in the vice gubernatorial race because he fared poorly in survey, including one commissioned by the Capitol.

New faces

Meanwhile, nine candidates are vying for the three congressional districts in Albay province as incumbent Rep. Edcel Lagman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD for the first district is being challenged by lawyer Wilfredo Brizuela who is running under the Liberal Party.

In the second congressional district, incumbent Al Francis Bichara of the Nationalista Party has two contenders, an educator and entrepreneur Amelia Bonita Apin of the Liberal Party and a businessman Ricardo Ayala, an independent.

Incumbent Congressman Reno Lim of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the province’s third district is facing three contenders after former Albay governor Fernando Gonzales under the Liberal Party is making a comeback.

Two new faces, Armando Redillas, a retired cop, who is an independent candidate and incumbent Albay vice governor Brando Sael under the Nationalista Party and also running for congressman.

Family contest

In Bulacan, political families used to come together against another family, but today, members of the same political families are pitted against each other.

This came as the filing of COC came too close, and based on records of the Commission on Elections in the province, at least three political families have members running against each other.

In the third district, Mayor Ricardo Silverio of San Rafael town is facing a challenge from his son and namesake Ricardo Silverio Jr., for the congressional seat that will be vacated by Rep. Lorna Silverio, the wife of the elder Silverio.

The Silverio couple will again switch position in the 2010 automated elections.

Along with his namesake, Mayor Silverio is also facing a challenge from incumbent Gov. Joselito Mendoza, who filed his candidacy for congressman of the same district.

In the lone district of San Jose Del Monte City, incumbent Rep. Arthur Robes’ re-election bid is being challenged by his first cousin, Oscar Robes.

In the first district of Bulacan, scions of the Ople family are vying for the same position as board members.

Comelec records showed that Felix Ople, the former mayor of Hagonoy town is facing Therese Cheryl Ople, an incumbent councilor of Malolos City.

A son of the late statesman Blas Ople, Mayor Felix is running under the Liberal Party-Del Pilar coalition ticket, while Therese is running under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD ticket.

Therese is the daughter of former Bulacan vice governor Bernardo Ople, the younger brother of the late statesman who served as Labor Minister, Senator and Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Two other Oples are running for elective positions. They are sisters Dalisay who is running for vice mayor of Hagonoy, and Susan who is running for senator under the ticket of the Nacionalista Party, the first party of their father who was fondly called in the province as “Ka Blas.”

Siblings and spouses

Incumbent Gov. Mendoza’s elder sister former Gov. Josefina de la Cruz is running for her old position.

De la Cruz is facing incumbent vice governor Wilhelmino Alvarado, whose wife Rep. Marivic Alvarado is seeking re-election against former Gov. Roberto Pagdanganan.

In Malolos City, incumbent Mayor Danilo Domingo is running for the lone congressional district of Malolos, while his nephew, incumbent councilor Dennis San Diego is running vice mayor of the city.

Domingo is facing Jun Aniag, the former congressman of the first district of Bulacan and elder brother Boy Aniag, the running mate of former governor De la Cruz.

For the mayoral post of Malolos City, incumbent Board Member Christian Natividad is facing former vice mayor All Tengco.

5-cornered fight

Moreover, five candidates are vying to be the next governor of Laguna province, including a former senator, an actor-turned-politician and the incumbent vice governor.

Jose Lina Jr., a former senator and top executive of Manila Hotel, is staging a political comeback, eyeing the governorship that he held more than a decade ago. Running with him as vice governor under the Liberal Party is Celso Miranda.

Three-term Pagsanjan mayor Emilio Ramon Ejercito, son of the late actor George Estregan and nephew of former President Joseph Estrada, will run under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. Himself a former accomplished actor, the young Ejercito has also made a good mark for himself in Laguna politics. The PMP vice gubernatorial candidate is Eleanor Reyes.

Incumbent Vice Gov. Ramil Hernandez is the gubernatorial bet of the Nacionalista Party, and his running mate is Dave Alma­rinez.

Dennis Lazaro, son of incumbent Gov. Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro, who is serving her third term, is the candidate for governor of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Lakas vice gubernatorial candidate is Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez, who is on his third term as this town’s topmost official.

Two independent candidates – Randy Bautista and Edgar Llanera – have also filed their certificate of candidacy for the governorship.

Meanwhile, five people are also vying to be the next mayor of the university town of Los Baños. They are incumbent Vice Mayor Procopio Alipon, former mayor Francisco Lapis, Anthony Genuino, Servillano Olleta, and Christopher Rompe.

Alipon is the candidate of the Nacionalista Party; Lapis, Liberal Party; Genuino, Bigkis Pinoy Party; Olleta, Alpha Omega 9 K Party. Rompe is running as an independent candidate. – With Celso Amo, Dino Balabo