Friday, March 30, 2007 Del Rosario grateful to Tonyboy By Ben O. Tesiorna
A TEARY-eyed Rodolfo del Rosario formally filed his certificate of candidacy for governor before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Thursday, expressing his gratitude to his nephew, Representative Tonyboy Floirendo, for withdrawing from the gubernatorial race.
Clad in an apple green shirt with not a single family member in tow, del Rosario said he was moved by Floirendo's decision to back out of the race for the sake of keeping their family intact.
"What happened has already happened and I was moved by Tonyboy's action that I cannot say anything but thank you to Tonyboy. And whatever misunderstandings we had before, forget them. I am sorry if I did anything wrong to you. I hope this will be the beginning of a wonderful family relation that we have been, all these years, trying to preserve," del Rosario said.
The governor also appealed to his sister, Nenita, and the rest of the Floirendo clan for understanding, saying his decision was not just in consideration of their family but of the welfare of the people of Davao del Norte as well.
Del Rosario said his decision was due to the people's clamor for him to run again more than anything else.
"I only run for one thing -- that is for the poor people of Davao del Norte... I also want to reach out to my sister and brother-in-law; after all they were the ones who raised me. They were my mentors," del Rosario said.
The cabinet secretary also assured the people that no other member of his family would seek any other position in the province.
He said his son, Vice Governor Anthony del Rosario, is invited to run for a party-list representative and would not run for congressman of the province as earlier rumored.
As to his plan on mending fences with the Floirendos, del Rosario said he hopes to do it soon.
"That's the thing that I don't want to discuss in public, family matters. I really don't know when. I hope sooner than later," he said.
Meanwhile, del Rosario admitted that incumbent Governor Gelacio Gementiza is the last person he wanted to face this May 14.
He added though that he wants to challenge one politician to face him in the gubernatorial race, which he said is the man behind all these controversies.
Del Rosario did not name this politician though, saying he does not want to promote his political enemies.
