BACOLOD City Councilor Ricardo Tan on Thursday, October 4, announced he will not run for mayor in the 2019 elections.
Tan said he is not anymore interested in pursuing his plans for the mayoralty race.
“I am setting aside my plans which I started two years ago because I saw that the time for my crusade for good governance has not yet come. I do not want to force the issue. There is always a time for every purpose,” he said.
He added that his decision was supported by his family, advisers and political leaders.
Tan noted that in the last two years, he is all over the city consulting the people and he knows their sentiments.
“Their cause is my cause. My crusade is their crusade for good governance,” Tan said.
In July, Tan said he is considering to run the mayoral post in the 2019 elections.
“I know that my decision and declaration now will generate attacks, malicious imputations and unfounded accusations. I am aware of those, but I strongly believe that truth shall eventually triumph. To be frank and honest about it, this is not an easy decision for me. I have spent hours considering all the angles of this decision. I have invested so much time and resources in visiting various barangays. I have made at least 500 packet meetings this year,” he said.
Tan added he is very serious about his plan then, however, unfortunate events intervened that leads to his decision.
He pointed out that one of the big reasons that he decided to set aside his plan is the decision of his family because they saw that it will no longer a healthy political exercise due to some intervening events and circumstances that happened.
“My family supported me all the way even though, I know that deep inside, they wanted me to be their captain than mayor of Bacolod,” he said.
Tan recalled that he tried to reach out to the people whom he thought could be his allies and running mates, but many times he was disappointed because they wanted to wait for the trumpet to sound so they can proceed with their march.
“So I will start a new life as a private citizen. I have reached this decision without any consideration from any person or political groups,” Tan said.
He also said he is setting aside his plan for mayor because he does not want to compromise the interest, trust, and confidence given to him by his leaders and supporters.
“I do not want to give them a sell out by coming into terms with so-called opposition personalities at the expense of the cause that I have bannered and championed,” he added.
Tan was a former political ally of Grupo Progreso headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Tan admitted that there was a time that he was seriously thinking to resign as a city councilor.
"But, I do not want to destroy the trust and confidence of almost 119,000 people of Bacolod who voted for me in the 2016 elections,” he said. (MAP)