CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth District Board Member Ricardo Yabut said Thursday that he remains steadfast on his bid to go for the fourth district congressional post.

Yabut made the decision despite a cousin's manifestation that he will run for the post and attempt to dislodge incumbent Representative Anna York-Bondoc-Sagum.

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On Tuesday, Rene Maglanque, a cousin of Yabut, professed his intentions to run for the post and "dislodge" Bondoc-Sagum.

Maglanque said during the lunch forum in a restaurant in this city that he learned that "you cannot win against Bondoc if there are two of you from the same town running against her."

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 added.

But Yabut told Sun.Star Pampanga that he would still pursue his own bid.

"Lahat naman ay may karapatang tumakbo e. Ang tingnan lang natin ay kung may pagmamahal sila sa mahihirap sa fourth district. Kahit konti lang nito ang makita ko ay pwede akong mag-give way. Kaya lang ay sa ngayon, wala talaga akong makita sa mga tumatakbo na may pagmamahal sa mga mahihirap doon," Yabut said, adding: "Ito ang dahilan kaya diretso pa rin akong tatakbo."

He said his being a cousin of Maglanque, who he said was his neighbor and was close to him, would not matter at this time since the political situation there is quite "fluid and dynamic."

"Mag-uusap siguro kami pero at this point, ang daming nag-iimbita sa atin like sa Liberal Party kahit Lakas-Kampi ako ngayon. Amg alam ko si Rene ay di nanumpa noon sa aming partido at ang alam ko ay tatakbo siya bilang mayor ng bayan naming. Kaya nagtaka rin ako. So baka mag-decide ako bago November 30 pero at this point in time, I am not changing my position," he said.

He said that he remains on top of surveys and he wishes to help more as a congressman than as a board member.

"Mas marami akong matutulungan kung sa Congress ako," he said.