Friday, February 29, 2008 Dalog asked to run as Mt. Province's congressman
IF SPECIAL elections were to be conducted today to fill the vacancy left by former Mountain Province Representative Victor Dominguez, current Governor Maximo Dalog would win hands down.
That is, if he decides to throw his hat into the expected race, and if any special elections would ever take place.
Sources close to Dalog said the governor, who is into his second term, is being asked to run for the position left vacant by Dominguez's untimely death. But equally strong are the voices of those who believe he should remain the province's governor until at least the end of this term.
Those who want Dalog to run said he is the only politician in the province today who has enough clout to represent Mountain Province in the House of Representatives. They added that there is no strong contender for the position with the present crop of politicians.
Dalog ran for congressman of Mountain Province in 1998, but lost to former congressman Roy Pilando. He just finished his first term as governor then.
"The obvious replacement for Dominguez is his wife (Josephine)," the source said.
However, he added, Mrs. Dominguez's political strength comes from her late husband and her ability to sway voters to her may not be as strong as when her husband was still alive.
Mrs. Dominguez was the province's congresswoman in 2001 until 2004 when her husband ran again for the position.
"Other politicians of the Dominguez clan have the same predicament as Josephine," the source claimed.
Other known political aspirants for the position have remained close mouthed about the possibility of running should a special election be called.
"Former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples' (NCIP) commissioner David Daoas is strangely quiet," the source said. Daoas ran for Congress in 1998 against Pilando.
But all these hinge on special elections ever taking place. "The Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not have any money (for the special elections)," the source added.
Aside from this, the Comelec is facing its own vacuum with the resignation of Benjamin Abalos due Sr. to the ZTE scandal gripping Metro Manila. Two other commissioners have retired.
"It would seem the Comelec will first have to set their affairs in order before calling for special polls anywhere," the source said.
For now, local leaders in Mountain Province are adamant for Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan to be the province's caretaker congressman, until a special election is called or the 2010 comes.
"As caretaker congressman, he (Domogan) will not have the power to disburse the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Dominguez. He will only be tasked to see to the concerns of Mountain Province in the House of Representatives," the source said. (SB)
