DAGUPAN CITY CAMPAIGN

THE line has been drawn: It’s the administration’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats versus the PDP Laban in Dagupan City.

But PDP Laban who?

Based on a random survey in the city, PDP-Laban, the opposition party founded by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, does not ring a bill in Pangasinan.

Perhaps, the easier way of understanding the political nuances of the party system in the local context is to simply refer to the administration candidates as under the wings of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. while the opposition bets will be with Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim.

De Venecia has confidently predicted a 12-0 win in their favor for all the positions in the city.

“Pound for pound, our team is far stronger than the other team, so there is no doubt for a 12-zero victory in the coming polls, and of course that also includes their congressman,” De Venecia said, but quickly added that he is not belittling the other group.

The Lakas bets are headed by former Immigration Commissioner Al Fernandez and former Councilor Belen Fernandez, president and general manager of the CSI Group of Companies.

The PDP Laban ticket is headed by the 28-year old son of Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim, Brian. His running mate is incumbent Councilor Vladimir Mata.

Brian was tapped by his father to head the PDP Laban ticket after former Councilor Atty. Liberato Reyna Sr., chairman of the board of the University of Luzon, backed out.

Had Reyna agreed, the son of the two-term Dagupan mayor would run for vice mayor.

Completing the Fernandez-Fernandez ticket are seven incumbent councilors, a retired government doctor, a lawyer-dentist and a former Association of Barangay Councils president.

The reelectionists are Michael Fernandez, Farah Decano, Dada Reyna, Danilo Torio, Luis Samson Jr., Jose Netu Tamayo and Alex de Venecia. The others are Dr. Jesus Canto, retired director of Region 1 Medical Center; Atty. Alfie Fernandez, who is also a dentist; and Alfredo Quinto, owner of a chain of photo supply stores.

In contrast, the PDP Laban ticket is composed of relatively unknown residents, some of whom are just in their early 20s.

Their candidates for councilors are reelectionist Nicanor Aquino, Sangguniang Kabataan president Charise Perez, former Councilor Manuel Yao, Ricardo Avelino, Karlos Reyna, an engineer; Tony Bautista, Dymphna Sta. Maria, Redford Mejia, Victoria Antonio and Victor Ramos, president of the Metro Dagupan Tricycle Association.

The Lakas team filed at about 2:00 p.m. accompanied by the University of Luzon band while their supporters cheered inside and outside the city elections office. The PDP Laban team, on the other hand, filed without fanfare at 6:00 p.m.

The independent bets for the council seats are George Castillo, Teodoro Wilhelm Manaois, Titus Perez and Ignacio dela Cruz Jr.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments