CABANATUAN CITY – Presidential Assistant for Central Luzon Lorelei Fajardo for senator?
If some Nueva Ecija officials were to be asked, they will work hard to have Fajardo, also presidential deputy spokesperson and former Palayan City mayor, throwing her hat into the senatorial arena in the forthcoming synchronized national and local elections.
Nueva Ecija 2nd District Board Member Joseph Ortiz said they would lead the launching of a “Relly Fajardo for Senator Movement” starting in Nueva Ecija.
“It’s about time,” he said, for Nueva Ecija to have “a voice in the Senate.”
Ortiz, a member of the ruling Lakas-CMD-Kampi said Fajardo has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to seek a Senate seat, and could very well articulate the sentiments not only of majority of Novo Ecijanos but also of the entire nation, being an effective mouthpiece of the President of the Republic.
“She has impressive credentials. She is a one-time mayor of Palayan City, treasurer of the League of Cities of the Philippines, an undersecretary and presidential assistant for Central Luzon,” Ortiz who belongs to the administration party said.
“Nueva Ecija will be fortunate to have a voice in the Senate in the person of Undersecretary Fajardo,” he added, stressing that the province, for a long time, does not have a true-blooded Novo Ecijano in the august chamber.
Ortiz noted that the last time the province installed a Novo Ecijano in the Senate was during the time of Juan R. Liwag, after whom a school in Gapan City was named.
However, another Novo Ecijano, incumbent 1st District Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson is perceived to be eyeing a Senate seat. Joson, also a former governor and member of the Batasang Pambansa, is a vocal critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Joson is also known in tackling various controversial issues, including the call to outlaw boxing on claims it is full of violence. After running and losing for a Senate seat under the team of the late former Sen. Raul Roco, Joson has launched the Citizen Power Movement (CPM) nationwide.
Ortiz said many past and future senators tried to associate themselves with Novo Ecijanos, the province being vote-rich, but none of them really came from the province. “They claim that they were from the province but the reality is that they were not born and raised in the province,” he said.
While he did not name names, the board member was apparently referring to Sen. Francis Pangilinan and former senators Vicente Sotto III and Joey Lina. Pangilinan, Sotto and Lina had claimed during past campaign sorties that they came from Peñaranda, Cabanatuan and Licab, respectively.
Fajardo, a godchild of President Arroyo, hails from Palayan City, the provincial capital. She is the eldest daughter of former Light Railways Transit Authority administrator Pacifico Fajardo and former three-term Palayan mayor Leonora Fajardo.
Earlier, the younger Fajardo was reportedly being eyed as secretary of either the Department of the Interior and Local Governments or the Department of Agriculture as both DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno and DA Secretary Arthur Yap are seeking elective post in 2010.
If some Nueva Ecija officials were to be asked, they will work hard to have Fajardo, also presidential deputy spokesperson and former Palayan City mayor, throwing her hat into the senatorial arena in the forthcoming synchronized national and local elections.
Nueva Ecija 2nd District Board Member Joseph Ortiz said they would lead the launching of a “Relly Fajardo for Senator Movement” starting in Nueva Ecija.
“It’s about time,” he said, for Nueva Ecija to have “a voice in the Senate.”
Ortiz, a member of the ruling Lakas-CMD-Kampi said Fajardo has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to seek a Senate seat, and could very well articulate the sentiments not only of majority of Novo Ecijanos but also of the entire nation, being an effective mouthpiece of the President of the Republic.
“She has impressive credentials. She is a one-time mayor of Palayan City, treasurer of the League of Cities of the Philippines, an undersecretary and presidential assistant for Central Luzon,” Ortiz who belongs to the administration party said.
“Nueva Ecija will be fortunate to have a voice in the Senate in the person of Undersecretary Fajardo,” he added, stressing that the province, for a long time, does not have a true-blooded Novo Ecijano in the august chamber.
Ortiz noted that the last time the province installed a Novo Ecijano in the Senate was during the time of Juan R. Liwag, after whom a school in Gapan City was named.
However, another Novo Ecijano, incumbent 1st District Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson is perceived to be eyeing a Senate seat. Joson, also a former governor and member of the Batasang Pambansa, is a vocal critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Joson is also known in tackling various controversial issues, including the call to outlaw boxing on claims it is full of violence. After running and losing for a Senate seat under the team of the late former Sen. Raul Roco, Joson has launched the Citizen Power Movement (CPM) nationwide.
Ortiz said many past and future senators tried to associate themselves with Novo Ecijanos, the province being vote-rich, but none of them really came from the province. “They claim that they were from the province but the reality is that they were not born and raised in the province,” he said.
While he did not name names, the board member was apparently referring to Sen. Francis Pangilinan and former senators Vicente Sotto III and Joey Lina. Pangilinan, Sotto and Lina had claimed during past campaign sorties that they came from Peñaranda, Cabanatuan and Licab, respectively.
Fajardo, a godchild of President Arroyo, hails from Palayan City, the provincial capital. She is the eldest daughter of former Light Railways Transit Authority administrator Pacifico Fajardo and former three-term Palayan mayor Leonora Fajardo.
Earlier, the younger Fajardo was reportedly being eyed as secretary of either the Department of the Interior and Local Governments or the Department of Agriculture as both DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno and DA Secretary Arthur Yap are seeking elective post in 2010.
