Bizman leads Baguio City LP slate

BUSINESSMAN Mark Go has received endorsement as Liberal Party’s (LP) congressional candidate and chapter chairmanship in Baguio, and led his partymates in filing their certificates of candidacy on Friday.

Go was joined by two mayoralty candidates: hotelier Freddie Gonzales, nominated as mayor by LP national officials, and former councilor Jose Mencio Molintas, nominated by the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and referred to by the congressional aspirant as an ally of the LP coalition.

However, Go said, “I will, of course, be choosing just one of the two mayoralty candidates as there is no possibility of having two mayors. We will eventually make up our mind on what is best for the party and the city. As chairman, I will be calling the shots from now on. Nobody is allowed to speak for the party except me.”

Go added that he will conduct consecutive meetings in the next two weeks to resolve factions and to come up with a solid slate even before the start of the campaign period.

Gonzales reportedly ran for the mayoralty position only to be substituted later by Regional Trial Court Judge Edilberto Claravall who is still is sorting out his retirement.

Molintas said he ran for the mayoralty post as an ally of LP despite his nomination with the NPC and Aksyon Demokratiko.

The former councilor claimed he ran to have an opposition in the mayoralty race if ever Claravall fails to avail of his retirement.

“It is part of the elimination process, we are not just about to give up and end up losing in the end if he cannot retire,” he said.

Molintas added they will come up with an acceptable arrangement soon since the substitution could still take place before December 21.

But Go said, “I don’t know if there is substitution. If there will be changes, the LP national and local officers will decide on it.”