Cojuangco fires the first shot for NPC
2016 GUBERNATORIAL RACE
LINGAYEN—It’s still more than two years away before the next election, but former Congressman Mark Cojuangco has unabashedly announced that he wants to succeed Governor Amado Espino Jr. when he steps down at the end of third and final term in 2016.
Cojuangco even made the announcement where Espino delivered his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last February 10 in front of the Pangasinan provincial capitol, catching by surprise incumbent and other elected officials reportedly also eyeing the position.
Among those reportedly making plans to make a bid for the top provincial post are Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, 6th District Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, former 3rd District Rep. Rosemary ‘Baby’ Arenas, and Amado Espino III, the governor’s son and Liga ng Barangay federation president.
Except for Arenas who is with the Liberal Party, all are with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of which Cojuangco is the provincial chairman.
The NPC was founded by Cojuangco’s father, industrialist Eduardo Cojuangco.
The younger Cojuangco, who was succeeded by his wife Kimi as the 5th District representative, has since been working as a private citizen and participating in partylist Abono.
“I will seek the mandate of the people of Pangasinan for the position of governor in 2016. As the chairman of NPC, the most logical candidate for governor (in 2016) would be an NPC man as the position of vice governor is filled out right now by an NPC vice governor,” Cojuangco said, referring to Calimlim.
Cojuangco noted that Calimlim has one more term left as vice governor and claimed it would be better that they run together in 2016 under NPC.
Calimlim and Bataoil declined to comment when asked by the media.
Bataoil has reportedly started going around the province as part of his plan to present himself to the people of Pangasinan as Espino’s successor.
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