(Photo grabbed from iOrbit)
CLARK FREEPORT – “I am going home to my people because that is where I belong!”
Thus, said Clark International Airport Corp. president-CEO Alexander Cauguiran as he reiterated his resolve to run for mayor of Angeles City.
During the “New at Hues” media forum organized by the Pampanga Press Club at the Park Inn Hotel Clark here on Wednesday, Cauguiran also admitted his “falling out” with long-time friend and ally Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.
“I heard they are going to have a meeting tomorrow that will authorize him (Pamintuan) to choose his candidates of their party. I have it from reliable sources that he will support his vice mayor,” said Cauguiran.
“With or without Ed-Pam, I will pursue my plans,” he declared.
When asked why Mayor Pamintuan is not with him, Cauguiran said: “The question should be answered by him and not me why he is not with me.”
“Isinara na naman ang pinto sa mga ordinaryong tao pero malakas ang aking pananalig sa salita ng Biblia; God says when the door is closed, windows will be opened,” he said.
“Pamintuan closed the door to his fellow ordinary Angeleño. Ang mamamayan ng Angeles, naniniwala ako, ay magbubukas ng kanilang mga bintana para isang ordinaryong Cauguiran na ka-uri nila. At tandaana natin, mas maraming bintana kaysa sa mga pintuan,” Cauguiran said.
He recalled the commitment he shared with Pamintuan to work for the ordinary Angeleno to have a chance of leading Angeles City.
“That was our commitment in 1992,” he said. “Doon po namin binalangkas ang aming pro-people platform of government at sinabi naming bilang iisang uri ng pinanggalingan na dapat mabigyan ng puwang at pagkakataon ang kinatawan ng ordinaryong tao at wakasan na, kahit pansamantala kung hindi man habang panahon, na ang paghahawak sa panunungkulan na lagi na lamang sa mayayaman at malalaking politiko, na lagi na lang sila.”
“That was our commitment so that in the future when the door is closed on these traditional politicians that do not carry the interest of the ordinary Angeleno, it will give a chance to ordinary people like Cauguiran (to lead)!” he exclaimed.
“I have always been honest with my dealings. You can accuse me of so many things but not dishonesty,” he said, without referencing who it was directed to.
Cauguiran said his time is now because he is “someone who has and possesses managerial skills and competence in leadership” has acquired through the years.
He said that as a leader, he will see to it that all projects “must have an objective, they must be time bounded, they must be quantified, and they must be subjected to strategic planning.”
“I trained here and abroad for this purpose so I would like to believe I have acquired some skills in managing just like what we do in the corporate world,” he said.
Public service
While Cauguiran was elected twice as city councilor, he said he will only serve two terms if elected mayor.
“I ask the people to elect me because I will deliver what I have committed that is why for the record I am only good for two terms, God willing, because that program is good for five years minimum. Let others continue because unlike others who promised to open the door (but did not), I will make the door wide open for the ordinary Angeleno that will replace me,” Cauguiran said.
CIAC legacy
Cauguiran said there was only one domestic destination in Clark when he came in 2016 as officer-in-charge of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC). “From one to 22 domestic destinations, we are connected from North of Luzon to Bicol in the South. We are connected to the West, in Palawan; and in Visayas, all major tourists’ destinations and three in Mindanao,” he bannered.
“From six flights a week to 276 flights now,” he said. “From 110 international destinations to close 150 international flights a week from six international destinations to nine international destinations.”
“For the first time in the history of CIAC, we were able to remit several millions of pesos to the national treasury,” he said.
Partido Abe Kapampangan
Cauguiran said he has the full support of the Partido Abe Kapampangan which has about 30,000 members as gleaned from the last campaign and elections that supported and took their oath to the party.
He said there are two agenda in the party’s general assembly held last Thursday where Mayor Pamintuan was invited but failed to show up.
“First, we elected new officers of our party where Mayor Pamintuan was elected in absentia as chairman, and I as president,” he said.
“Second, I was authorized by the general assembly to nominate our candidates,” he said. “We underwent the proper procedures in our party.”
As for the general assembly called by Pamintuan for Thursday, “up to this hour, I have not received any invitation,” Cauguiran said.
“I want to go back where I started as an activist serving the people. I want to continue serving the people of the city of my birth. A poor boy from Sapang Bato is going home.”
