FVR endorses Braganza
FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos has endorsed the candidacy of his nephew, Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, during a recent family gathering.
“If Nani Braganza will be elected governor of Pangasinan, I am sure that foreign and domestic investors will take a second look at our province and pour in the much-needed investments to jumpstart the local economy,” said Ramos during a reunion of more than 1,000 members of the Braganza, Agsalud and Ramos clan in Asingan.
Ramos cited Braganza’s experience in transforming Alaminos City and said this would help Pangasinan obtain an “A-rating” in economy, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFW), education and investment.
Braganza, for his part, said his uncle’s endorsement will create a “bandwagon effect” on his candidacy.
MAYORS
Meanwhile, mayors supporting Braganza, have reiterated their loyalty to him and thrashed what they called propaganda being circulated by Braganza’s lone opponent, re-electionist Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
“I’m a principled person. I remain supportive of Hernani Braganza and I will continue to campaign for him for governor and Arturo Lomibao for vice governor,” said Mayor Benny Robeñol of Asingan, stressing that it would be “political suicide” to shift to Espino’s camp.
Robeñol explained that the photo in which he and two other Liberal Party candidates are shown with Espino is intended to demonstrate that the candidates in Asingan are one for clean, honest and peaceful elections, “not for selfish political reasons.”
“I had no idea that they will use that picture as a propaganda material against Braganza and even myself,” he said.
“Earlier, they again made a fool of themselves after 17 of my LP candidates for mayor charged them of lying after the Espino camp came up with a propaganda that my candidates have already abandoned me,” Braganza added.
The mayors have also accused Espino of offering them bribe money of P100,000 to P500,000, through re-electionist Board Member Ranjit Shahani, a cousin of Braganza, to jump ship.
Shahani, a former ally of Braganza, has explained that the offer was from his own funds and intended to simply help the mayors cover their campaign expenses.
…WHILE SISTER LETICIA AND SON SUPPORT ESPINO
ASINGAN–A house divided.
This is the situation in the Ramos family rooted here where former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani and her son, Board Member Ranjit Shahani, reiterated their support for re-electionist Governor Amado Espino Jr.
The former senator downplayed his brother’s endorsement of their nephew, Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, as it was made during a family gathering rather than a political rally.
“My candidate is Governor Espino for Governor of Pangasinan,” said Shahani during the Barangay Night of the Asingan town fiesta celebration last April 23.
“If my brother really endorsed Braganza, we respect that. And he should also respect our decision to support Governor Espino,” Shahani said.
Shahani cited Espino’s performance in the last six years for his two terms saying he “has truly helped the different towns of the province big time”.
The next day, in a press conference at the Sanctuary Building in Urdaneta City, Shahani and her son Ranjit again affirmed their support for Espino and said that although Braganza is a blood relative, they believe that Pangasinan would do better if Espino will continue as governor.
Braganza is a son of Purita Agsalud, a first cousin of Ramos and Shahani.
EXPULSION FROM LP
Meanwhile, the younger Shahani admitted approaching some LP mayoralty candidates and giving money to some of them, but stressed that this was no bribe.
Ranjit, who is running for re-election in the provincial board after failing to get the LP slot as vice governor, said he was just helping the mayors so that they can campaign more effectively for the senatorial candidates of the party.
He said the money was part of his personal savings, not from Espino, and denied asking the mayors to support Espino.
Nonetheless, the LP in Pangasinan said they are mulling to expel Shahani from the party.
The Shahani mother and son reacted harshly to this saying the provincial arm of the LP does not have the power to do this.
The elder Shahani pointed out that her son is the highest elected LP official in Pangasinan and that they are the original LP members in Pangasinan, not Braganza nor Oscar Lambino, currently the LP provincial secretary-general.
“Since they are newcomers in the LP, what right do they have in expelling Ranjit from the party?” she asked.
“This is not the right time to expel anyone from the LP,” she added and suggested that Lambino should instead focus on campaigning for all the senatorial candidates of the LP in Pangasinan.
Lambino earlier brushed aside the younger Shahani’s claim of the existence of a “Shahani wing” and a “Braganza wing” in LP-Pangasinan.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
