Monday, March 17, 2008 Kin opposes Domogan as Dominguez's replacement
BAGUIO Representative Mauricio Domogan is not the choice of the Dominguez clan to act as the caretaker of Mountain Province because of the demise of the late Victor Dominguez.
According to Domogan, the Dominguez clan wants a Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party member to act as the steward of Mountain Province, while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) still has not decided whether or not to hold special elections to replace Dominguez.
Domogan belongs to the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), while Dominguez is the Kampi regional chairman when he was still alive.
However, with the possible merger of Lakas and Kampi, Domogan may still become the caretaker of the province. "It all depends on the decision of Speaker Prospero Nograles," Domogan said. Nograles is another Lakas stalwart.
The Baguio congressman is willing to take on the job, so long as Nograles gives the responsibility to him.
Domogan added that he was surprised to learn Benguet Governor Maximo Dalog and other local chief executives in Mountain Province were pushing him to be the caretaker.
"At first I declined the offer because I was not consulted or informed about this," he said.
Dalog even sounded desperate on regional television when he said he was not picky as to who will take on the caretakership so long as he comes from the Cordillera region. The governor previously said he was supporting Domogan for the post.
"It could be (Representative Solomon) Chungalao (of Ifugao), or Domogan or (Representative Manuel) Agyao (of Kalinga), so long as he is a Cordilleran," Dalog said.
The Dominguezes have expressed Agyao to be their preference because he is a partymate of the late lawmaker.
Domogan explained caretakership will only be for pushing for the interests of Mountain Province in the House of Representatives, and the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Dominguez will not be touched by the named steward.
But the caretaker may sit as Mountain Province representative until 2010. This is because reliable sources say Congress may not call for the special elections in the near future.
The reason being the Comelec is undergoing a change in leadership itself. With the resignation of Benjamin Abalos Sr. as election chairman left a vacuum in the Comelec leadership, which still needs to be filled up. Likewise, two other commissioners reached mandatory retirement age and will also need to be replaced before any new election could be called.
Aside from this, it is said that the Comelec does not extra money to fund any special elections. (JJL/SB)
