Tarlac’s new political David takes post

TARLAC CITY — He ran as an independent candidate and won. And he is now being hailed as the new political David of this city who had brought down the traditional political Goliaths.

Having won by nearly 45,000 votes against his closest rival, Genaro Mendoza will take over the reins of the city today.

"He (Mendoza) got the sympathy votes of the people, and he well deserves the position which was supposedly due to him way back in 1995," said veteran journalist and local political analyst Amante Reyes.

Mendoza’s closest rival for the post was outgoing Vice Mayor Ponciano Noel Soliman III, whose candidacy under the Sama-Sama sa Tarlac-Nationalist People’s Coalition was backed by business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., his nephew Rep. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Gov. Jose Yap Sr.

Another political Goliath that Mendoza brought down was outgoing Councilor Arsenio Lugay who ran under the People Power Coalition-Liberal Party (PPC-Liberal) and had the blessings of former President Corazon Aquino and son Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Mrs. Aquino, during the campaign, even went house-to-house to tell people not to vote for Mendoza.

The third political bigwig trounced by Mendoza was outgoing board member Joji David who was supported by the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and endorsed by outgoing Mayor Gelacio Manalang and former Tarlac Gov. Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco.

Mendoza used to be an ally of the Cojuangcos. His father, Nereo, was a ranking executive of the Cojuangco’s Hacienda Luisita.

According to Reyes, Mendoza was supposed to run for mayor way back in 1995, but the Cojuangcos supported the bid of businessman Nikko Nisce. Nisce lost to Manalang and Mendoza was elected a board member.

In 1998, Mendoza was able to secure the endorsement of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino in his bid for mayor but he also lost to Manalang. — Benjie Villa