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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
No chance for Kampi-Lakas 'reunion' in Pampanga
By Reynaldo G. Navales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) seemed to have shut the doors for reconciliation with the ruling Lakas-NUCD Party in Pampanga.
Pampanga Third District Representative Reynaldo Aquino said the ongoing rift between Governor Mark Lapid's Lakas Party and Kampi's official bet for the gubernatorial post, Provincial Board Member Lilia Pineda, has caused "disunity" among the allies of the President.
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"The infighting among administration allies in Pampanga has definitely caused disunity, and this time it is not possible to reconcile the two contenders," said Aquino.
"As for Governor Lapid and Pineda, I don't think there would be any reconciliation between the two, because the Kampi Party has already strengthened its political programs for Pampanga. It simply cannot be done," he said.
He added: "In terms of a national coalition, both parties can work together, but in the local level, it is not possible as of this time."
The lawmaker said the Kampi party already declared Pineda and Vice Governor Yeng Guiao as the official candidates for the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial post, respectively, in the coming elections.
The Baby Pineda-Yeng Guiao tandem will battle Lapid and his vice gubernatorial bet businessman Paul Laus.
Aquino said 15 mayors vowed to fully support the candidacy of Baby Pineda and Yeng Guiao. The mayors last year bolted the Lakas Party and joined Kampi.
Malacañang had tried to resolve the political conflict in Pampanga, but the 15 mayors stood firm in their decision to support Pineda in the coming elections.
The mayors told Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio that they will only go back to the Lakas Party if the governor would bring back the P300 million quarry funds to the coffers of the Pampanga Provincial Capitol.
The Lapid administration repeatedly denied allegations of "graft and corruption" in the collection of quarry fees in the province as alleged by the vice governor.
Guiao challenged Lapid to a debate in the issue of quarry collections of the province, but the governor wants the vice governor to file his candidacy for the gubernatorial race before he accepts his challenge.
Provincial Administrator Fidel Arcenas offered to represent Lapid in the debate but on a neutral ground, saying "he will answer all the allegations of Guiao particularly the quarry collection issue."
Aquino also bolted from Lapid's party and joined Pineda's Kampi and declared that he intended to challenge Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of Lakas for the mayoralty post in the City of San Fernando. He said he is the official bet of the Kampi Party for the mayoralty race in San Fernando, adding that he has chosen former councilor Noel Tulabut as his running mate for the vice mayoralty post.
Aquino also announced candidates for councilor, namely, Jay Cuyugan, Rolly Macalino, Raymond Guevarra, Paul Quiwa, Puring Bamba, Cecil Andin, Ralph Maglalang and Robert David, adding that the two remaining slots would be announced later.
The legislator served his three-year term as mayor of San Fernando until he ran for the third district congressional race in 2001 and won. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (February 14, 2007 issue)
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