Garcillano a political orphan

Former Comelec on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is now looking for a political party that will adopt him after the pro-administration Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) declined to nominate him as their candidate for the first district of Bukidnon, a source told The STAR yesterday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Garcillano sought the help of top Kampi officials during a recent national convention of the party at the Manila Hotel to obtain a nomination as the congressional bet for his district, but his application was denied.

Garcillano is determined to run against veteran lawmaker Soccoro Acosta, mother of Rep. Nereus Acosta who will be running for mayor of Manolo Fortich town.

He was seen on the premises of the hotel at the time of the convention, the source said: "Some party members want Garci in but the decision was to put on hold his application."

Because of his failure to secure party nomination, Garcillano is now without a party and is wooing other pro-administration parties to adopt him as their candidate. The problem is that nobody wants him, the source said.

"Many just want to talk to him, but do not want him in their parties," the source added.

However, lawyer Ed Tamondong said in a telephone interview that his client is not desperately seeking a party because he has his own political bailiwick in Bukidnon province.

He said Garcillano can stand on his own and that the commissioner turned candidate would run as an independent.

Tamondong said Garcillano’s application was not acted upon by Kampi because of the party policy that only incumbent elected officials can be named as regional party heads.

"(Garcillano) is popular in the province, it’s only in Manila that Garcillano is being ridiculed," Tamondong added. He also said Garcillano will file his candidacy before the March 29 deadline.