CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Former Transportation and Communication assistant secretary Rene Maglanque said he is determined to unseat incumbent Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum of the fourth district.

“I’m ready to dislodge her this time,” Maglanque said during a press conference at the Bale Capampangan restaurant here Tuesday.

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Maglanque, who lost his congressional bid twice to Bondoc in 2004 and 2007, said he has learned his lessons from his two defeats.

“I learned that you cannot win against Bondoc if there are two of you from the same town running against her,” he said. Maglanque and retired general Ramsey Ocampo, both from Candaba, lost to Bondoc in 2004. He and Jay Sonza, from Macabebe, lost to the same rival in 2007.

But Maglanque was reminded that this third bid could turn out to be a replay of his two defeats since Board Member Ric Yabut, also from Candaba, is running for the same post.

“Only of one us will run,” he said, adding that Yabut is his cousin and hinted that he could persuade him to withdraw in his favor.

“Tutal first term pa lang naman siya as board member,” he said.

Maglanque bewailed the poor state of government hospitals in his district and vowed to do better than the doctor Bondoc “even if I am an engineer.” He also decried the lack of farm-to-market roads and the unsolved flooding problems in the district.

“With President Arroyo, all these could have been solved if these were brought to her attention but apparently she was not informed,” he said.

Arroyo inaugurated the P290 million Quezon Road last October 27 with Bondoc-Sagum and third district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. The road traverses towns in the fourth and third districts of Pampanga on the way to north and central Luzon and Metro Manila on the eastern portion of the province.

Maglanque, who has professed his unending loyalty to the Arroyos, said he will run under the Liberal Party and fully supports the presidential bid of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

He said he and Noynoy have known each other for a long time.

“I will be a loyal Arroyo man forever,” he said. Maglanque was appointed assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) from 2001 to 2004 during the Arroyo Administration. He is believed to be close to presidential son and second district Rep. Mikey Arroyo.

Once elected, Maglanque said he will file bills to amend the current law on government procurement and establish a vegetable market inside the Clark Freeport Zone. (JCS)