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Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Tarzan giving way to Ed in Angeles congress race
By Rollie R. Razon
SAN FERNANDO -- Angeles City Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin disclosed that he is set to "give way to National Housing Authority (NHA) boss Edgardo Pamintuan's possible congressional bid."
This was disclosed by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) director Max Sangil Monday.
Sangil, a political ally and supporter of Pamintuan, quoted Lazatin as saying that the city mayor is planning to retire and support Pamintuan should he decide to take another crack at the congressional derby in the first district which he lost to Congressman Francis "Blueboy" Nepomuceno.
However, the CDC director said that Pamintuan is "still studying his options."
The report on Lazatin's planned retirement from politics was confirmed through a text message sent last Monday by IC Calaguas, Angeles City information officer.
"Because of his pledge to support NHA general manager Pamintuan, it now appears that Lazatin is really set to thwart the Nepomuceno clan's political supremacy in Angeles City even when he is set to retire," Sangil said.
He also said that Lazatin is standing pat in his commitment to support Gov. Lito Lapid's bid for the mayorship of Angeles.
Sangil claimed having personally talked to Lazatin and that the mayor allegedly said that he would only give up should Pamintuan decide to run against Nepomuceno once more.
Pamintuan, according to Sangil, texted him on the matter and that the former said he is still studying his options.
Sangil said that he now has the support to two local political giants - Lito Lapid and Tarzan Lazatin - plus the backing of President Arroyo.
In an earlier report, it was said that President Arroyo asked Pamintuan to run as congressman in the first district of Pampanga.
The reported call of the President has been viewed as a tacit expression of support to the candidacy of Pamintuan if only the he would agree to run against Blueboy Nepomuceno.
It is to be recalled that during the time when Pamintuan became mayor of Angeles City, now Congressman Nepomuceno serves as vice mayor.
The two fought it out in the congressional race in 1998 general elections with Blueboy Nepomuceno emerging as the winner.
Pamintuan always wanted to become first district congressman and it was believed that he did not really want to fight it out with Nepomuceno, his friend during their days at City Hall.
(September 9, 2003 issue)
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