Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Ex-House member Sol Abines to run vs. Pabling, Kintanar
FORMER congressman Crisologo Abines will again try his luck to represent the second district of Cebu in Congress.
After he was appointed as chairman of the United Opposition (UNO) Cebu chapter last Feb. 8, Abines yesterday announced that he will run for Congress in the May elections.
In previous interviews, Abines said he and his family had already agreed that he would go after the mayoral seat of Santander town.
But that changed because of the prodding of the opposition.
As of now, his family is still discussing whom to field as mayor, while his son James Arnold will run for the town council.
Meanwhile, Abines said they are still looking for a strong candidate for Samboan, where he was former mayor.
Both Santander Mayor Wilson Wenceslao and Samboan Mayor Peter John Calderon are seeking reelection.
Junie-Yapha
Jejomar Binay signed Abines’ appointment as UNO Cebu chapter chairman. Binay is the group’s president and he has been authorized to nominate official candidates for the party.
Abines will be up against former governor Pablo Garcia and Provincial Board Member Carmiano Kintanar.
He assured that they will come up with a strong provincial slate and they will also field candidates in the towns and cities.
In the next two to three weeks, the UNO party will announce its complete slate.
But as of now, they are still expanding their membership and strengthening their party at the provincial level.
When asked who are being considered to run for governor and vice governor of Cebu, Abines said they are still finalizing things.
But he admitted that the tandem of former congressman Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. and Rep. Antonio Yapha will be a strong one.
Abines was a second district representative for three terms until 1998.
That year, his wife Priscilla ran to replace him but lost to Rep. Simeon Kintanar.
Also in 1998, Abines ran and won as mayor of Samboan, while his son Arnold won as mayor of Santander.
In 2001, Abines tried to regain control of the second district but he lost to Kintanar while Arnold lost to Wenceslao.
In 2004, Abines ran for mayor of Santander but also lost to Wenceslao. (MBG)
