FORMER three-term mayor Rodrigo “Digos” Canlas has officially accepted the endorsement of incumbent Mayor Leonora Wong and filed his certificate of candidacy at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) Tuesday noon, October 16.
Canlas was accompanied by his family, who were all wearing red shirts, and a flock of supporters when he filed his bid to reclaim the San Simon mayoral seat, a position he held from 2001 to 2010.
It may be recalled that before Canlas stepped down in 2010, he endorsed then political newbie Wong to be his successor.
“I endorsed Mayor Wong in 2010 with the full confidence that she can fulfill our common goal of developing our hometown and after almost nine years, San Simon is already reaping the fruits of what, I can say, I had planted almost a decade ago,” Canlas said.
With the endorsement of Wong backed by the support of Kapanalig at Kambilan Memalen Kapampangan party chaired by Governor Lilia Pineda, Canlas said that he is bound to sustain the momentum of development of San Simon once he reclaims the mayoralty seat.
“The progress of San Simon has become very evident, as manifested by the awards and recognitions the local government bagged over the years and if my fellow Simonians permit again, I will make it my life duty to not only sustain but elevate the level of development here,” Canlas said.
Wong as vice-mayor
After three successive terms as San Simon chief executive, Wong is now set to deliver her planned programs through legislative measures as she seeks to become the new presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan.
In an interview after she filed her COC for vice-mayor, Wong disclosed that her decision to serve as runningmate of Canlas is aimed at ensuring a “good tandem” in the executive and legislative branches of local government.
“I have experienced being at odds with my vice-mayor and it affected the delivery of quality public service to people and I am hoping that it will not happen again,” Wong said.
If elected, Wong said that she will lead the review of old ordinances, and immediately update obsolete ones to align them with the current demands of the town’s economy.
“We will craft new ordinances for the benefit of all Simonians, as well as the business sector who had key participation in the development of San Simon under my turf,” she said.