LINGAYEN—Minds keep a‘changing.

After the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ arbitration committee voted to endorse last week the nomination of the party’s provincial chairman, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, for the governor, the party decided to declare the race for the top post in Pangasinan as a free zone.

The camp of Dr. Jamie Agbayani, wife of Governor Victor Agbayani, is naturally exuberant about the latest decision.

“It’s good news for Mrs. Agbayani”, said Ruel Camba, the provincial information officer of Governor Agbayani.

“We have the advantage (under a free zone),” he added.

Aside from Lambino and Agbayani, also in the race is Rep. Amado Espino Jr. of the 3rd district of Pangasinan.

Lambino, meanwhile, remains confident that the intramural between him and Mrs. Agbayani can be ironed out if the latter will agree to become his running mate as vice governor.

Lambino said former President Fidel Ramos, chairman emeritus of Lakas, continuously supports a Lambino-Agbayani ticket in Pangasinan with outgoing Governor Agbayani to run for congressman in the second district.

“We heard that Governor Agbayani has finally agreed to run for congress, so there is a big possibility he will allow his wife to run for vice governor with me,” Lambino said.

However, a report received by The PUNCH indicates that the campaign materials for Mrs. Agbayani’s bid for the governorship are already done.

The free zone does not apply to Espino since he is running under the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi), a part of the Lakas coalition.

“I don’t care what will happen to them (Lambino and Mrs. Agbayani),” said Espino, expressing confidence he is very much ahead of his two Lakas opponents.

Pangasinan is among three provinces where Lakas-CMD authorized a free zone. The others are Pampanga and Batangas.

Espino for governorship

      Meanwhile, Espino is ready for his biggest political battle yet.

Now only on his second term in Congress, Espino believes the May election is the best time for him to take a crack at the governorship or he will never have a chance to do it anymore in the future.

“It’s now or never,” he said.

Espino is also unperturbed by the pending decision of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat coalition on its choice as standard bearer for the province since he will run under the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) banner, the party formed by President  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 1998.

Kampi is a part of the Lakas coalition.

Exuding confidence, Espino said while his two would-be opponents are still slugging it out to win the Lakas party’s nomination, he has had the advantage of making the rounds early.

OPPONENTS

“That’s their problem. I don’t care,” Espino said.

He said he enjoys the support of four of his fellow congressmen and 42 of the 47 mayors of Pangasinan.

Saying this is the biggest support ever given to anyone running for governor of Pangasinan, Espino harbored no hard feelings towards House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. of the fourth district who will support the Lakas candidate.

The congressmen reportedly supporting Espino are Reps. Mark Cojuangco of the fifth district and Conrado Estrella III of the sixth district, both of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and Reps. Arthur Celeste of the first district and Generoso Tulagan of the third district, his colleagues in Kampi.

Espino vowed to change the image of Pangasinan, pointing out that despite its being a big province, it has instituted what he called mendicancy in governance.

“We must graduate from being mendicant by harnessing our vast reserves both in manpower and resources in order to become a great province, like Cebu and Bulacan,” Espino said.

He also stressed, in an obvious dig against one of his would-be opponents that he is a true blue Pangasinense – born, raised and educated in the province and it is here “where he will die with his boots on.”—LM

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