P’sinan solon defies kin, declares support for GMA

ROSALES, Pangasinan — Sixth district Rep. Conrado Estrella III defied his grandfather and an uncle, both top provincial leaders of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., when he openly declared his support for President Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term in the May 10 polls.

With his declaration, Estrella ended speculations that he could not go against the wishes of his grandfather, former Agrarian Reform Minister Conrado Estrella, and his uncle, former fifth district Rep. Conrado Estrella Jr., national adviser and Ilocos region coordinator, respectively, of the Fernando Poe Jr. for President Movement.

The congressman’s brother, re-electionist sixth district board member Robert Estrella, is working closely with businessman Rosendo So for Poe’s campaign in the fifth and sixth districts.

The congressman declared twice his support for Mrs. Arroyo when she visited the province last Thursday, first at the San Quintin National High School in San Quintin town and then at the gymnasium of Rosa—les town. About 10,000 people attended both rallies.

Since the start of the campaign, Mrs. Arroyo has visited Pangasinan almost weekly in her bid to wrest Pangasinense votes because her main rival, Poe, also claims to be a Pangasinense.

Mrs. Arroyo’s mother hailed from Binalonan town, and Poe’s father from San Carlos City.

Estrella is reportedly facing a tough fight for his re-election amid reports that the Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a powerful political bloc founded by Sto. Tomas Mayor Antonio Villar Jr. which earlier had declared its support for Mrs. Arroyo, might be forced to back Estrella’s rival if the congressman would still go for Poe of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino.

Estrella is slugging it out against former sixth district board member Alfonso Bince Jr., who has also established a good track record as a provincial board member for many years.

Biskeg said it needs a good leader in the sixth district to ensure that Mrs. Arroyo will have a strong ally there. Bince is running under the banner of Raul Roco’s Alyansa ng Pag-asa.

Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, acting Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) provincial chairman and spokesman of Biskeg, told The STAR that Estrella’s endorsement of Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy is a welcome move.

"We believe in Congressman Estrella’s words because he is an honorable and responsible official," Lambino said.

Villar also lauded Estrella for having an independent mind and putting a premium on the welfare of the country over personal interest.

The sixth district of Pangasinan is composed of the towns of Rosales, Tayug, San Quintin, San Nicolas, Balungao, Umingan, San Manuel, Asingan, Sta. Maria and Natividad.

Asingan is the hometown of former President Fidel Ramos, former Sen. Leticia Shahani and her son, former Rep. Ranjit Ramos-Shahani.

While Ramos supports Mrs. Arroyo, Shahani and her son are openly campaigning for Poe.