Chavit ‘anoints’ bets for Ilocos Sur polls  

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur — Getting a break from post-Estrada hassles in Manila, Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson came home yesterday to "anoint" his Bileg party’s top candidates for the May 14 elections.

Chosen as gubernatorial bet was Vice Gov. Diogracias Victor Savellano and his brother, board member Jerry Singson, for vice governor.

Several mayors from the province’s two districts were reportedly rooting for a Jerry Singson-Efren Rafanan ticket but the governor ruled out any of his relatives as his successor.

Rafanan is a senior board member serving his third and last term. He was earlier expected to get the governor’s nod for the No. 2 post.

In several media appearances here and in Manila, Singson earlier pledged to allow non-relatives to take a crack at the governorship.

Singson is bowing out after his third and last term as governor and vowed to take a leave from politics.

Singson also "anointed" re-electionist Bileg mayors under the "equity of the incumbent" rule, while several towns headed by protegés of his estranged cousin, former second district Rep. Eric Singson, will be challenged by the governor’s party.

Congressional and provincial board candidates will be announced during a Bileg meeting on Feb. 5.

According to reports reaching The STAR, Eric, whose wife Grace is the incumbent second district representative, is moving for a possible coalition agreement with Singson as what happened in 1995 when the two camps fielded Singson as common candidate for governor.

Eric could not be contacted for comment.

Former Narvacan Mayor Edgardo Zaragoza, Eric’s brother-in-law, previously announced that he was running for governor under Lakas-NUCD, to which Eric belongs.

Their status with the ruling party, however, could not be immediately ascertained because they supported ousted President Joseph Estrada during the political crisis.