CLARK FREEPORT – The son also rises in Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. as he formally announced his plan to run for mayor of Angeles City.
Lazatin made the announcement during the media forum “Talk Widus” organized by the Pampanga Press Club at the Widus Hotel and Casino here on Wednesday.
Vowing to effect change for a better Angeles City, Lazatin also said he will continue with the programs initiated by his father – former congressman, ex-mayor and now, at 84, the oldest barangay captain in the Philippines, Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, Sr., Barangay Balibago chief Lazatin said it was agreed during a family meeting headed by his father, and attended by his brother, 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin II, as well as his children, that he will run for mayor of Angeles City.
“Nag usap-usap po kami ng aming pamilya. Napag usapan po namin na ako na po ang hahabol ng mayor ng ciudad ng Angeles (We had a family meeting. It was agreed that I will run for the mayor of the city of Angeles),” he said.
Lazatin said they are now in the process of selecting his vice mayor and considering three personalities which he declined to name. But sources said these are former vice mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, former councilor Maricel “Marang” Morales and incumbent Councilor Alfie Bonifacio.
Lazatin also declined to name his other teammates running for seats in the city council but said he will make an announcement of the complete list next week.
In the meantime, he said, candidates are being sorted out from among a shortlist of 16 names – five of whom will be announced this weekend.
Lazatin said he might run under the Partido Federalismo ng Pilipinas, where he is a member, or under the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte (MRRD).
Lazatin said among his list of priorities will be providing more medicines for the Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA) and free home lots to the urban poor – two programs started by his father.
“I believe more medicines are needed at ONA and the urban poor must have their own lot on where to put up their homes,” he said.
“We all deserve a piece of land in our city and our own house,” he added.
Lazatin said under his administration, education will take precedence.
“Kailangan po nating bigyan ng mga bala ang ating kabataan (We need to give ammunition to our youth). Without proper education how can they attain progress in their lives?”
Lazatin also said health care especially to senior citizens will also be prioritized in his administration.
“We owe it to them. I want to take case of our senior citizens,” he said.
Now on his second term at the city council, Lazatin said as a matter of respect, he told Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno of his plan to run for mayor.
“As a friend, I also informed him of my plan,” he said.
“We can still work together in the city council even if I already made known my intention,” he added.
Nepomuceno has yet to make a formal announcement of his mayoralty bid which is already bruited about.
Lazatin said he is also a friend of another mayoralty candidate, Clark International Airport Corp. president-CEO Alexander Cauguiran, who made his declaration to run for mayor of Angeles City recently.
“I believe Angeles politics has matured. Gone are the days of mudslinging because we need progress for Angeles City,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lazatin said he will also work for more infrastructure development of Angeles City.
“In terms of infrastructure program, wala pong masyadong magagawa, wala pong masyadong natatayo sa ciudad ng Angeles (…there is only a little that was done, only a few have been constructed in the city of Angeles),” he lamented.
“Kaya nga po ang sinasabi pu namin ngayon, kung magka-teamwork ang congressman at mayor ang progress ng Angeles especially in terms of infrastructure ay maganda po, mas mabilis po ang pag grow ng ciudad ng Angeles (That is why what we are saying now is if the congressman and mayor are working as team work, there will be better and faster development especially in terms of infrastructure which will redound to the progress and growth of the city of Angeles)” he said.
