GOVERNOR Amado Espino Jr. appears to be a popular guy among those eyeing the vice governor post in next year’s elections. But who will he choose?

All five wannabes who have so far signified interest to run for the province’s second highest position have also expressed the wish to be the running mate of Espino, who is likely to have a one-on-one duel with former Governor and now Second District Representative Victor Agbayani.

The most senior of the five, Provincial Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., said if he is not “anointed” by Espino, he will opt to run for re-election as board member or possibly bid to become one of the delegates for a possible Constitutional Convention in October 2010.

Among those that may derail Bince’s plan is the rumored draft of Sto. Tomas Mayor Vivien Villar, wife of Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), as Espino’s running mate.

Bince said if Villar is chosen, “I will respect that choice.”

CALIMLIM

Speaking in the same forum, Mapandan Mayor Ferdinand Calimlim, also a vice governor aspirant, said for him “it’s Espino or no one”.

Calimlim, on his maximum three-term as mayor, said, “I will only run for vice governor under Governor Espino because I believe in his program of government and I would like to help him through the passage of friendly ordinances, like on investments.”

He said he has no fallback position but he added that supporters are urging him to run nevertheless as an independent candidate.

LAMBINO,
SHAHANI

Two other vice gubernatorial aspirants, former Vice Governor Oscar Lambino and former Vice Governor and Sixth District Congressman Ranjit Ramos Shahani, did not make it to the forum but both have earlier publicly admitted they would be happy to run under Espino if given the chance.

Lambino, who is also reportedly being groomed as Agbayani’s vice gubernatorial bet, said he may give way to Mayor Villar in respect of his blood relations with the undersecretary.

Shahani has said that he can work well with Espino, but has yet to make a comment if he is prepared to face Villar in the race. —LM

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