HOUSE  Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has disclosed that Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. and business magnate Belen Fernandez, president and general manager of the CSI Group of Companies, are being groomed to run for mayor and vice mayor of  Dagupan City.

De Venecia

De Venecia said the two were with him when he attended a gathering of some 3,000 members of the family of Dagupan City’s longest-serving mayor, Cipriano Manaois, hosted by the latter’s son, former Vice Mayor Teodoro Manaois III at their residence on Arellano street.

Also present in that gathering were Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, son of Alipio, and members of the city council.

That was the first public confirmation from De Venecia himself that the elder Fernandez, a former three-term mayor of Dagupan, and the lady Fernandez, a former city councilor, are likely to become the ticket bearer for Lakas in Dagupan.

Former councilor Fernandez admitted there have been talks going on between her and Immigration Commissioner Fernandez.

Meanwhile, De Venecia expressed delight at the show of support for his re-election bid.

“I was so elated by the big crowd that attended the gathering of the Manaois family who all pledged to support me in my quest for a third consecutive term of office,” he said.

He said more and more people are pledging their support for him, especially now that for the first time in three elections, he will likely be opposed should Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim pursue his congressional candidacy.

BELEN’S CONFIRMATION

Meanwhile, business magnate Fernandez said she can not turn her back on the offer of De Venecia because of her desire to continue serving the people of Dagupan City.

Saying she is now “almost  sure” of running for vice mayor, Fernandez said her team-up with the immigration commissioner was in consultation with the other members of the party, particularly Vice Mayor Fernandez, Councilors Michael Fernandez and Farah Decano, including former Vice Mayor Teodoro Manaois III who pledged to extend her their support.

“I was honored by the invitation of Speaker de Venecia and Commissioner Fernandez. The truth is, I really missed those times when we were going to the barangays and attending to the needs of the people, like conducting feeding, and medical and surgical missions,” said the former city councilor.

She also ignored speculations that her return to public office is motivated by her business interests.

“I need not protect CSI anymore. It has always been there, everywhere in Pangasinan and also in Baguio and the Ilocos. As far as we are concerned, we are stable already,” she said—LM

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