LIBERAL Party (LP) candidate Eugene Diaz has withdrawn from the mayoralty post for the City of San Fernando fueling speculations of the possible entry of former mayor Oscar Rodriguez into the mayoral race in 2019.

This was announced by Board Member Anianias Canlas, Jr. at the Best Western Hotel on Monday, November 26, with LP Pampanga officers including Rodriguez and former barangay captain Arnel Sicat.

Rodriguez said he has to decide yet if he will run or not, awaiting the decision of the LP national leadership through Senator Francis Pangilinan on the possible move for local LP officials in the city.

Rodriguez, a stalwart member of the LP, is being endorsed by his party and long-time followers and supporters to join the mayoralty race as substitute to Diaz, who filed a certificate of candidacy under the opposition banner.

“There is communication between the LP and the incumbent mayor,” Rodriguez said, adding that he would rather wait for the decision of the LP national leadership on how to proceed.

The possible development in the tussle for the city mayor seat came after LP Secretary General Quezon City Representative Jose Christopher Belmonte called on Rodriguez to “continue his leadership of this vibrant city and to reconsider his earlier decision not to run in the 2019 elections.”

‘It’s all up to him’

Over the weekend, LP senatorial bet Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III disclosed during a forum with Pampanga mediamen that “it’s all entirely up to Rodriguez whether to run or not.”

“Whatever Rodriguez’s decision is, it will be respected by the Liberal Party,” he said.

“We leave it to the decision of Oca. He still has some time to decide. I know that there is a clamor from some sectors but if he does decide to run, the leadership will welcome him back to the political arena. If he decides not to run, then we will have to respect his decision,” Tañada added. (JTD)