SAN SIMON - Former San Simon three term mayor Rodrigo ‘Digos’ Canlas will be the official candidate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban for this town’s local chief executive post should he finally decide to run in 2019.
The announcement was made by PDP-Laban Central Luzon chairperson Tito Mendiola as he spoke before officials of this town, both in the local government and barangay level, during a mass oath taking held recently.
“As of now, Mayor Digos is our official candidate for San Simon. But of course, we are still awaiting his official declaration if he will run for the mayoralty post on 2019 elections and hopefully, there will be no intervening factors along the way,” he said.
Mendiola also denied reports that Engineer Abundio “Jun” Punsalan Jr., who is also said to be eyeing the mayoral post here, is the current PDP-Laban chairman in this town.
He said there are certain procedures that an individual must go through before he can be a member and official of PDP-Laban.
“If he did not go through the proper process, he can only be considered an interim member or official. But as of now, Mayor Digos and Mayor [Leonora] Wong are the official leaders of the PDP-Laban San Simon chapter,” he asserted.
Canlas, for his part, expressed delight over the proclamation made by Mendiola.
He said that being a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s party is already a privilege.
The former mayor added that he was more elated that he was chosen to be the official mayoralty candidate for the 2019 polls.
He expressed his gratitude to the party, whom he said he share the same beliefs and advocacy, for trusting on his leadership potential and his vision for San Simon.
“I am very happy and grateful that I was chosen as PDP-Laban’s official candidate along with other reputable leaders in Pampanga,” he said.
Canlas did not still confirmed that he will be running for the mayoral or any other post in the local government as of the moment.
He said that he is still consulting his family, friends and constituents if they still consider him qualified for any government position.
Wong, who has been encouraging Canlas to be her successor, also gratified the administration party for helping him endorse her candidate.
She cited the importance of having a unified political party for town leaders for a smooth and seamless implementation of projects.
“It is very important for me that Mayor Digos, whom I have been endorsing, was also chosen by PDP-Laban to be its candidate. It only means that I will not have a conflict of interest since I also now a member of PDP-Laban,” she said.
Wong is ending her nine-year term as local chief executive town in 2019. She expressed hopes that she will be replaced by Canlas.
Canlas endorsed Wong to the Simonians in 2010 after the former finished his three terms as mayor from 2001 to 2010.