Caloocan politicians form alliance

Caloocan City (District 2) Rep. Luis "Baby" Asistio and his political allies, under a multi-party umbrella, named the Caloocan Grand Coalition, publicly declared yesterday they are running in the May polls.

Asistio, chairman in Caloocan for the United Opposition (UNO) and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), told reporters and some 200 supporters at a popular chicken house on EDSA in Caloocan, he wants to unseat incumbent Mayor Enrico Echiverri and fearlessly predicted a landslide win.

Asistio also said he has given his post as local chairman for former President Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) to a new recruit who is running for councilor in his ticket.

With Asistio were Caloocan (District 1) Rep. Oscar Malapitan of the Nacionalista Party, who is running for reelection; and former Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, local Liberal Party chairman, who is again running for congressman in the second district after losing to Echiverri, who ran as guest candidate in the KMP of the late Fernando Poe Jr., in the last elections.

Also running under the coalition is Vice Mayor Luis "Tito" Varela, who has resigned from the Lakas Party early on.

Asistio said the coalition’s program is "to revive the fervor and zest for life and bring back the integrity of the city residents."

Asistio and his group scored the incumbent administration for its alleged excessive taxation, wasteful spending of the people’s money and mediocre leadership.

"We want to bring back the dignity of Caloocan residents," said Asistio.

Even as this developed, Baby’s elder brother, former Caloocan City Mayor Macario "Boy" Asistio, who has been trounced several times in previous polls, confirmed to The STAR he is again running for mayor, "Baby or no Baby in the running."

"Even if it’s ex-President Estrada himself who’s running for mayor, I will still fight," said the former mayor when reminded that he will running directly in the path of his younger brother and could ruin his (Baby’s) chances.

When pressed as to how he reached his decision to run again, Boy said he has waited long enough for the right person to come out from among the aspirants. "I waited if someone’s going to run and I was still willing to give way, but I did not find anyone deserving."

Boy, however, clarified that he has nothing against his brother. "I don’t have any issue with Baby. It just so happens that he’s running. I’m not looking for an enemy." — With Pete Laude