COJUANGCO UPDATES

IT was supposed to be a showdown of ideas and platforms between two strong gubernatorial candidates.

But in the scheduled debate over Bombo Radyo Dagupan on April 16, Amado Espino III was a no-show, that left only Mark Cojuangco answering questions from panelists.

In that no-contest debate that became a forum with Cojuangco, he proved that he would face anyone and answer any issue anytime, anywhere to let the people know who is more qualified and more capable to lead Pangasinan.

Cojuangco, a former three-term congressman in Pangasinan fifth district, presented his platforms of government from agriculture, flooding, investments, education, energy, among others.

Former Congressman Mark Cojuanco answers questions from one of our panelists, Ms. Elsha Soriano of PIA Pangasinan, in our live Debate sa Bombo. (Photo and text courtesy of Bombo Ruel de Guzman’s Facebook account)

In that forum, he had a retort to his detractors’ claim he is not a Pangasinense, as his family comes from nearby province of Tarlac. Cojuangco is the son of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. who became Tarlac governor and established his successful Northern Cement Corporation in Sison town, Pangasinan since 1960s.

The young Cojuangco said he has been in Pangasinan since 1966.

He said that, while he was born in Manila, “this does not imply I am less Pangasinense”. He said his opponent was also born in Quezon City. “So what difference does that make?” he said.

Cojuangco, 58, said he has spent more years in Pangasinan than his rival who is only 38 years old. “That means, I was already 12 years when I came to Pangasinan but my opponent was not yet born then,” he said.

“So what’s the issue? Why do they insist in making that an issue?” he asked. He said one’s birthplace should not be an election issue as long as the candidate follows what’s provided by law.

On not being able to speak the Pangasinan language, Cojuangco said Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal did not specifically mention dialects or languages in many parts of the country when he wanted all Filipinos united by one language, the Filipino.

“Here in Pangasinan alone, there are Pangasinenses who are Ilocano-speaking, Sambal-speaking but they could not speak Pangasinan. Are they less a Pangasinense?” Cojuangco asked.

“Why is that an issue? This (gubernatorial position) is not a Balagtasan contest and I am not running to become an elocution contest winner,” he said.

He said he is running because he believes he has many ideas and programs, not the ordinary kind, based on his personal experiences in life that could help Pangasinan and its people.

“The issue here is who is the better candidate who could be governor and I want to say now, that for me, Mark Cojuangco is the better governor for the province of Pangasinan,” he said.

The young Espino was a three-term mayor of Bautista town and the incumbent president of the provincial federation of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Cojuangco also stressed that his kind of politics is not to destroy the image of any person. “I only present how I can do what I am presenting to the people,” he added.

He said his camp remains calm despite name-calling and being barraged with black propaganda from his rival’s camp.

Asked what to do with the mountain of illegally extracted black sand from coastal barangays in Lingayen where Gov. Amado Espino Jr and other respondents are facing charges at the Sandiganbayan, Cojuangco said necessary clearances must be sought from concerned government agencies to have the extracted materials auctioned and its proceeds would go to provincial government coffer.

Sources from Bombo Radyo Dagupan said the debate was supposed to be held a week earlier but the young Espino asked for a reset to another week.

When the debate day came, he, however, did not appear.

It may be recalled that in an earlier interview, Cojuangco, often criticized by some quarters soon after he announced his intent to run for governor in 2016, said “I want a campaign that is positive not negative.”

“Gusto ko lang sabihin sa taong bayan, tingnan nyo ang ginagawa nila. Tama ba yan o mali, positibo ba yan o negatibo? (I want to tell the people, look at what they are doing. Is that right or wrong, is that positive or negative)?” he said.

He said in order for the people to get balanced information, he is open to having discussion or debate on issues. He said this way, there would be no hearsays but documents and facts to support any claim.

Asked if he is not piqued over criticism hurled at him by his detractors, Cojuangco said, “Ang turo po sa akin nung nag-umpisa ako sa pulitika, sa pulitika po ang pikon laging talo. Parte o bahagi po yan ng ating trabaho at dapat lang po ipaliwanang lang palagi kung ano yung katotohanan. Yun lang po ang mahalaga (What was taught tme when I started in politics, that in politics the one who is peeved/piqued always loses. That is part of our work and it is proper to explain always the truth. That is what’s important),” he added.

The ‘Debate sa Bombo’ was anchored by Juraine Serquiña.

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