‘REAL TEAM’. Guiao, Pamintuan and Sangil get accolades of barangay chairmen.
Photo by Ric Gonzales
ANGELES CITY – The official registration period of candidates for the 2013 elections is in October yet but already Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao has emerged as “the man to beat” in Pampanga’s first congressional district.
“Llamado (the odds are in his favour),” said a local political observer who requested anonymity as he claimed to be a leader of another prospective first district congressional candidate.
Already secured with the strong backing of Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda and business mogul Manny V. Pangilinan who called him “the only candidate who could make things greater in Angeles City, Mabalacat, and Magalang,” Guiao recently gained the support of this city’s village chiefs.
On Sunday, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and 28 of the 33 barangay chairmen of this city handed Guiao a signed manifesto of their “unwavering support” to the presumptive candidate “in his unselfish desire to serve the people of Angeles city, to be the representative of the first congressional district.”
The presentation of the manifesto served as highpoint of the joint birthday celebrations of four Angeles City barangay captains, including Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Joseph Dimapilis held at the Fortune Seafood Restaurant in Barangay Balibago here.
Making a strong presence at the gathering too was businessman-philanthropist Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda.
“We strongly believe that Guiao, the only three term vice-governor in Pampanga`s history, with his vast experience as a legislator, has the wisdom, dynamism, sincerity and dedication to be our genuine voice in Congress,” the manifesto said.
It added that Guiao “with his untarnished record as a public servant, modest character and sound leadership, will greatly complement our efforts and initiatives aimed at upholding and advancing the public welfare.”
“The people of Angeles City deserve only the best. And it is with this backdrop that we have banded ourselves together to seek a leader with a passion to serve and the compassion for those who are to be served.
With this manifestation we aim to encourage our constituencies and those who share the same vision for the people, to join us in this endeavor, as we sincerely vow, individually and collectively, to always make true our commitment to serve the people of Angeles City,” concluded the manifesto.
Luck
“Lots of luck” on his side, said Guiao of the snowballing support to his candidacy, as he thanked the village chiefs as well as Pamintuan and other local officials for their “trust and confidence” in him.
“I will go where Mayor Ed Pamintuan goes,” added Guiao, in an obvious dig at come backing Cong. Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno whom Pamintuan trounced in the 2010 mayoralty elections by the biggest margin ever recorded in the city history.
“We are also lucky because we are with Mayor Boking now,” said Guiao in the dialect, referring to Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales who earlier committed his support to Guiao in the aftermath of First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin’s decision not to seek re-election and instead run for mayor of Angeles.
Morales said he and the people of Mabalacat “support Guiao 100 percent of the way, less than that is not accepted.”
Guiao attributed to luck too Lazatin’s “mind shift” recognizing the sitting solon as “a most formidable opponent.”
“But my biggest luck is all of you,” Guiao told the village chiefs to thunderous applause.
Among those who attended the signing of the manifesto of support for Guiao were Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, Councilors Jesus “Jay” Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio, Angeles City chief of staff Alex Cauguiran and Balibago Barangay Captain Rodelio “Tony” Mamac. The two-term Balibago village chief was among the first to sign the manifesto of support to Guiao.
Claro M. Recto Barangay Captain Val Lagman, said his fellow barangay captain – Ceferino Nunag of Mining – was supposed to formally pledge his support and sign the manifesto but he was down with the flu.
Unblemished record
“We are 28 barangay chiefs for Yeng Guiao. But I think the rest of our colleagues will sign the manifesto in due time,” said Lagman, who was instrumental in the drafting of the manifesto for Guiao.
Lagman said he supports Guiao because “the vice governor’s record in public service is unblemished.”
He added that “I see a true and sincere leader in Guiao whose primary concern is the welfare of people in Angeles.”
Lagman added that the leadership of former mayor and former three-term Rep. Nepomuceno was “tried and tested and the wise thing to do now is to give Guiao the post of congressman based on his record as former board member and three-term vice governor.”
Nepo unfazed
On Monday, former Mayor Nepomuceno was reported to be “unfazed” by Guiao and all other would-be opponents in the 2013 election.
“Definitely, I am running for Congress in 2013. I have made up my mind and I am not backing out. I am not bothered at all by other contenders because like them, I have plans of a high-level campaign.
I know they are backed up by big supporters but we have our mass base of loyal supporters, too.” So was Nepomuceno, a former three-term congressman, was quoted as saying.
‘Real team’
Angeles City Councilor Sangil, who has set his eyes on the vice mayoralty post in 2013, described the political partnership of Guiao and Pamintuan as “the real team”.
“The real team, rain or shine in public service is Mayor Ed Pamintuan and Cong. Yeng Guiao! Last night, Mayor Ed led the 31 barangay captains and more than 200 kagawads of Angeles City in an open declaration of support to Yeng Guiao as their first district congressional bet. Rain or shine, Agyu Tamu,” said Sangil in a statement sent on Monday.
Guiao is the head coach of the newly crowned Rain Or Shine champion team of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
– With Joey Pavia
