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Saturday, February 24, 2007
Mayors' league head rejects Pineda-Lapid team-up
By Joel P. Mapiles
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said they couldn't sacrifice the future of Pampanga in the hands of the Lapids just for political harmony and reunification.
Pelayo, who is also the spokesman of the Pampanga Mayors League (PML), issued the statement in reaction to reports of a possible Lilia Pineda-Mark Lapid or Mark Lapid-Lilia Pineda team-up in the May elections.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The 17 mayors in the Pampanga Mayors' League claimed that former governor now Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid and his son, Governor Mark Lapid, failed to implement clear directions and programs for provincial development in the past 12 years. The kapampangans are the living testimonials of this, they added.
Pelayo clarified that the gubernatorial race in the May 2007 elections "is not a fight between the Lapids and the Pinedas but a race for good governance."
Pineda is running against Governor Lapid in the May 14 elections.
She earlier said she would no longer turn her back from slugging it out with Governor Lapid for highest position in the province.
During the last quarter of 2006, majority of Pampanga mayors bolted from the Lapid camp saying they could no longer stand the governor's "poor leadership."
According to the mayors, the Provincial Government failed to implement concrete plans for garbage collection, pollution, flooding, peace and order, and fight against cyber sex and drugs.
Hence, Pelayo said there is no way for a Pineda-Lapid team-up in the mayors' crusade for change. They will field Pineda as their candidate for the gubernatorial race to end the 12-year rule of the Lapids.
Pelayo said they are confident that Pineda has the capacity and capability to run the affairs of the province through consultative leadership and empowerment of the municipal governments.
The mayor noted that the Lapid-Pineda tandem being floated around is just a "punch on the air" and the fruit of the wild imagination and hallucination of the Lapid camp.
He said the 17 mayors have lost their trust and confidence in the leadership of the Lapids in the province.
Pelayo said the mayors' crusade for change of leadership at the Capitol "has gained the full support and backing of multi-sectoral groups, non-government organizations, and even some religious leaders."
He also claimed that almost all political rivals for mayor, congressman, board members, barangay leaders, and councils have already given their commitment to the crusade.
Asked about the challenge of the Lapids to show evidence of corruption that can stand in court, the mayor said some barangay leaders will file cases against the governor next week for double payments and non-deliveries.
Asked about the recent declaration of Senator Lapid to campaign for Senator Ping Lacson, Pelayo said the lawmaker's move means that "the Lapids are not solidly with the Team Unity senatorial ticket" despite their holding the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) chairmanship in the province.
On the other hand, Pelayo said the mayors' league has passed a resolution to massively campaign for the 12 Senate bets of Team Unity.
Asked if the mayors would get the endorsement of the ruling Lakas-CMD and President Arroyo for Pineda to become the official candidate of the administration, Pelayo said they are not interested because they respect the equity of the incumbent policy of the ruling coalition. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (February 24, 2007 issue)
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