Yeng keen on running for Congress

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Thanks, anyway.

Chosen as official vice gubernatorial candidate of the ruling Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) party in this province in the 2004 polls, provincial board member and basketball coach Joseller "Yeng" Guiao was thankful.

But Guiao told party leaders that he will still run for Congress amid expectations that the Senate will approve today or tomorrow a proposal creating a new congressional district in the province.

"I was totally surprised by the declaration that I would be the party’s vice gubernatorial candidate. Those who are backing me for congressman might now feel betrayed. I am grateful that I was considered for the post, but my priority is to run for congressman," Guiao told The STAR.

Provincial leaders of the Lakas-CMD met here last Monday to declare the party’s official local candidates, headed by Gov. Lito Lapid’s 26-year-old son Mark for the gubernatorial post. Lapid himself is reportedly running for senator.

Guiao said he was never consulted by local party leaders on their decision to name him as Mark’s running mate.

The Senate is expected to pass on second reading today Senate Bill No. 2441, authored by Sen. Robert Barbers, creating a fifth congressional district comprising of Mabalacat and Magalang towns, separating them from Angeles City which would comprise a lone district.

"There is no opposition to the bill in the Senate and so we are sure it will pass second reading and be slated for third and final reading on the same day or the day after. This means that there will be a new district entitled to its congressman in the elections next year," said Guiao, who hails from Magalang.

Opposition to the Senate bill has been resolved after Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin was reported to have agreed to seek re-election instead of running for congressman.

Earlier, Lazatin was reported to be planning to seek a court injunction if the law was passed. In his three terms as congressman until 1996, he got most of his votes in Magalang and Mabalacat, and not in Angeles City where Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Francis Nepomuceno is seeking re-election.

While Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales, president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League, was also named official mayoral candidate during last Monday’s caucus, he is also expected to run for congressman in the new district.

Guiao said he will definitely run for Congress and will recommend Morales to take his place as Mark’s vice gubernatorial running mate.

"If he (Morales) pursues his plans to run against me in the new district, my proposal is for the district to be declared a free zone," he said. — With Ric Sapnu