Sunday, January 20, 2008 Tonyboy dares Dolfo to a face off in 2010 By Ben O. Tesiorna
FORMER Davao del Norte Representative Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo challenged his uncle, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, to a face off in the 2010 elections.
In a television interview Wednesday, the young Floirendo called the governor a "coward" for having no balls to face him. The former congressman also dismissed any possibility of reconciliation with the del Rosarios.
In an interview last Thursday, del Rosario dismissed the challenge posted against him by Floirendo saying that election is too far away and that he wanted to first concentrate in giving service to the people.
"Layo pa ng eleksyon di ba? I just would like to attend to my job, at the proper time magkita lang gihapon ta, (The elections are far off. We will still see each other)" del Rosario said.
On the accusation that he is a coward, the governor replied, "Di ko naman sinabing matapang ako eh. Di naman ako nagmamatapang eh (I did not say I am strong. I am not acting strong) so I have no comment on that."
On the continuing rift between their families, del Rosario said they have long resolved their conflict and expressed wonder as to why the young Floirendo keeps on hitting him.
"Family differences are already solved. I do not intend to talk on family matters in public. As far as I am concerned wala namang akong problema eh, ewan ko bakit ang iba dyan may problema (I don't have any problems, I don't know why the others have problems)," he said.
The rift between the Floirendos and the del Rosarios started early last year after the two families grappled for the gubernatorial post prior to the start of the election period. The young Floirendo ended up giving way for his uncle as governor.
From then on, the relationship between the two families has gone sour despite claims of both sides that everything has been forgiven and forgotten. On New Year's eve, Floirendo reportedly had a fight with the sons of the governor during a family reunion at a posh hotel here in Davao City.
The Floirendos said Tonyboy got pissed when Manny del Rosario was laughing at him while he was singing. This prompted the former congressman to throw the microphone at the young del Rosario. It resulted to a brawl.
The del Rosarios on the other hand claimed that Floirendo "gate crashed" at their family reunion drunk. They admitted laughing during the party but denied Tonyboy was the subject.
Tonyboy allegedly had a gun during the melee but the latter denied this. A Floirendo confidante said the former congressman does not even have bodyguards with him during the party. (BOT)
