NO FREE ZONE IN PANGASINAN

LINGAYEN–A decision has finally been made but the political bickering is far from over.

Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, provincial chairman of the ruling Lakas-Christian Democrat party, has been anointed to be the administration’s official candidate for governorship in Pangasinan, but Dr. Jamie Eloise Manzano-Agbayani, wife of Governor Victor Agbayani and Lakas provincial vice-chairman, is by no means backing out from the race.

An excited Lambino, calling local newsmen from Manila, said the party’s national arbitration committee has chosen him to be the standard bearer in Pangasinan as relayed to him on Thursday morning by former President Fidel V. Ramos, Lakas chairman emeritus.

The decision, however, is still subject to the final approval of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the party’s chairman.

The arbitration committee also recommended that Agbayani compete for the vice-governor as Lambino’s running mate.

The Agbayanis could not be contacted for comment as of presstime but Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis hinted the strong possibility that Dr. Agbayani will still run for governor as an independent candidate, saying that even before the arbitration committee’s decision was made known, she has already prepared her certificate of candidacy for filing before the Commission on Elections.

Solis said they have yet to see an official copy of the arbitration committee’s decision but harped that the arbitration committee has become “useless and biased” and went on to say that it is under the thumb of Ramos who earlier made a strong endorsement for Lambino.

The arbitration committee of Lakas-CMD is composed of former President Ramos, House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lakas- CMD Secretary General Ray Roquero and Boy Serrano, party’s vice president for Luzon.

Lambino’s nomination by the arbitration committee was confirmed by Ed Malay, press relations and media adviser as well as spokesperson of former President Ramos, who said on radio that Lambino was found by the national arbitration committee to be the more qualified candidate for governor, without belittling the qualifications of Mrs. Agbayani.

The arbitration committee, said Malay, also based its decision on the winnability of the candidate as shown by surveys showing that Lambino is on top of all the possible candidates for governor.

This was, however, disputed by Solis, saying that Mrs. Agbayani has the edge as shown by their own survey.

Malay said that although the decision of the arbitration committee is still subject to the final approval of President Arroyo, they see no reason why the decision will not be given due course.

Also recommended to be in the Lakas-CMD ticket in Pangasinan are congressional hopefuls retired Lt. General Alberto Braganza for the first district, Rachel ‘Baby’ Arenas for the third district, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for the fourth district, Rep. Mark Cojuangco for the fifth district and Rep. Conrado Estrella III for the sixth district.—LM

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