Mayors endorse Cojuangco’s gubernatorial bid
COJUANGCO UPDATES
QUEZON CITY—Nine mayors of the first district of Pangasinan and their two board members plus their congressman declared Friday their all-out support for the gubernatorial bid of former fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco in 2016 at the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headquarters here .
Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, who is the spokesperson of the group, said his fellow mayors decided as a team after thorough consultation with each other.
Pangasinan first district mayors flash the C sign after they openly declared their all-out support for former Pangasinan fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco’s gubernatorial bid for 2016 at the Nationalist People’s Coalition national headquarters in Quezon City.
He said they have the blessing of his brother, first district Rep. Jesus Celeste, for their coming here and their open declaration of support.
Present for the declaration of support were Gwen Yamamoto of Bani, Carlitos Reyes of Mabini, Aldrin Cerdan of Anda, Jose Pajeta Jr. of Agno, Noli Celeste of Bolinao (who is also the brother of the congressman), Board Members Anthony Sison and Napoleon Fontelera Jr , Arthur Celeste of Alaminos City, Noel Nacar of Dasol and Vice Mayor Richard Martinez of Infanta and Alberto Guiang of Burgos.
Not present but also joining them in their decision was Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue. Only the mayor of Infanta belongs to the Liberal Party and was therefore not around but his vice mayor joined other mayors in their declaration of support for Cojuangco.
“This is our official stand. We are supporting the gubernatorial bid of former Congressman Mark Cojuangco and we will stick with the NPC,” Celeste said. He denied reports circulating that they will bolt the party like what five board members did in June.
He added that they will support all the candidates of the NPC from the congressman, governor down to councilors in 2016.
Celeste also said that it is not true that they are cutting their ties with Governor Amado Espino Jr.
He said that Espino is already in his third and final term and he is not yet endorsing anyone to be his candidate.
Talks are persistent however that the governor’s son and namesake, Board Member Amado Espino III, is being groomed by the governor to succeed him but the Espino camp would not confirm it yet.
Espino and his son also belong to the NPC.
Celeste said the first district mayors highly respect the governor, adding that he is the “best governor Pangasinan ever had”.
But he also said that he had known Cojuangco having been his colleague in Congress for nine years “and he could also be the best if given the chance to serve the province as governor”.
“We respect Governor Espino,” he said.
Celeste said he had relayed to the young Espino about their plan and they hugged each other.
“Not that we don’t like him but why don’t we give Congressman Mark, a leader of our party who has helped us for nine years, the chance?,” he added.
He said if later on the young Espino would push through as gubernatorial candidate, “then we would ask forgiveness from them”.
Anyway we had helped him for the last three elections, he added.
Nacar, president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League, said their decision is to show that first district mayors have teamwork.
He said they talked several times and weighed the advantages and disadvantages for coming out with their final decision.
“Nobody dictated on us and no one obligated us where we should be. We are together where one is,” Nacar added.
Cojuangco for his part said he is humbled by the overwhelming support of the mayors.
“I am personally touched by the message of Mayor Art Celeste and by association his brother Congressman Boying Celeste that they give their support to me in my candidacy for the governorship in the province of Pangasinan.”
He added, “I am humbled by their show of support and I am anxious to be able to prove my leadership to all of them. I’m anxious to make sure that they are not disappointed in their decision to support me.”
He said he hopes to deliver the kind of services for Pangasinan they expect from him.
Cojuangco declared his gubernatorial plan in February.
NPC was founded by Cojuangco’s father, former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
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