Joey to run for Congress even without Lakas backing

Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez reiterated yesterday his decision to run for Congress in next year’s election even after Lakas executive director Joey Rufino threatened to drop him from the party’s roster of candidates after his controversial tiff with former girlfriend, popular television host and actress Kris Aquino.

Marquez, who is now on his third and last term as Parañaque mayor, has been eyeing a congressional post and was hoping to run under the Lakas party before the incident happened.

Although his controversial breakup with Aquino has placed him in a bad light, Marquez is optimistic that the many years of service he rendered in Parañaque would far outweigh the controversy.

"It is the same constituency that I will serve. That incident would not cover up my 12 years of service. The people of Parañaque know me more," he said.

The actor-politician stressed that he is still decided to represent Parañaque in Congress though he said he understands the party’s predicament and would respect the decision of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

"As much as I want to talk to them, I don’t want to be their problem. Right now, they have more pressing, national issues to attend to. But I am saddened that they have not given me the chance to tell my side (of the story). In the public’s perception I am already guilty," he added.

When Marquez began his political career as Vice Mayor of Parañaque in 1992, he was affiliated with the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), but he shifted to Lakas the following year and remained with the party ever since.

"I have been loyal to the party, even if I had to close my eyes. I stuck with the party even if at times I feel I am being caught in the middle of a certain situation," he added.

Marquez said he would respect the decision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on his case, noting that DILG Secretary Jose Lina Jr. is only standing by the principles of his office.

"But please don’t judge me based on my personal life, but on my performance as mayor and my loyalty as a Lakas-CMD member," he pleaded.

Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong, one of Lakas-CMD’s vice presidents, refused to confirm the party’s move to junk Marquez from its list of candidates but said it is better to have those with "unblemished record."

"Preferably, the party should have each candidate for the different positions in the 2004 elections with unblemished record, attractive performance and noteworthy personality," Datumanong told reporters.

If Marquez is dropped by Lakas-CMD from its roster of candidates, he might not be welcomed by the opposition either, LDP senatorial bet Jamby Madrigal said.

"As a woman, I would certainly not," Madrigal said. "I do not believe in family violence and dysfunctional attitude."

Meanwhile, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said Marquez’s entry into their party will be the decision of the local chapter of the LDP in Parañaque. But he admitted that Madrigal’s stand will have a heavy weight within the party, inside or outside Parañaque.

According to Rep. Bellaflor Angara Castillo (LDP-Aurora), Marquez and Aquino’s controversial breakup highlights the need to pass House Bill 4110 or the Reproductive Health Care bill which seeks to promote the rights and protection of women from physical and psychological abuse.

"It is now time that Congress pass the reproductive health care bill so that mechanism can be put in place to address the problem of violence against women," Castillo told reporters during the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Artemio Dumlao, Perseus Echeminada and Aurea Calica