STO. TOMAS, Pampanga – This somnolent town of only seven barangays certainly gets into the record books with its former chief executive gunning for mayor anew and his wife seeking re-election as vice mayor.
Romy “Ninong” Ronquillo served for two terms from 1995-2001 before losing to Lucas Arceo. His wife, Gloria, aka “Ninang,” also lost to Arceo when she contested the mayorship in 2004, but beat him in the vice mayoralty race in 2010.
Denouncing what he called “lacklustre performance” of incumbent Mayor Lito Naguit whom he supported in previous elections, Ronquillo said he was prevailed upon to run against him.
Ronquillo alleged that Naguit failed in helpings his constituents during the floods brought by the monsoon rains in August. The whole town practically went under water, some barangays inaccessible even by boats for days.
“Lahat po ng aking napuntahan at nabigyan ng tulong noong kasagsagan ng baha ay nagsabing kailangan na akong pumagitna ulit para sa kapakanan ng bayan,” Ronquillo said.
On running in tandem with her husband, the lady vice mayor said the town’s development programs “as executed by the mayor” will be “more facilitated by the supporting legislative agenda crafted at the sangguniang bayan” with her at its helm.
“Lalong bibilis ang pag-unlad ng bayan sa close partnership mayor at vice mayor,” she said.
Opposing her re-election bid as vice mayor is first Councilor Mark Arceo, son of the former mayor.
Naguit is likewise looking at the records in his third run for the mayorship as no mayor in the town has been elected for three terms.
