Guico resigns, Alarcio assumes presidency
LAOAC—The president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League stepped down after only almost two months in office after his bid for the national presidency of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) failed.
Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico III fulfilled his promise to give up the presidency of the local association of Pangasinan mayors should he fail to win the national organization. He was succeeded by Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio Jr.
“He is gentleman enough and he gives meaning to his words,” Alarcio, then the executive vice president, told The PUNCH Friday.
It could have been an intense and close fight between Guico and Alarcio for the Pangasinan Mayors’ League presidency in their election in September but the mayors agreed to elect Guico unopposed since he was aspiring for the presidency of the LMP.
“It was a show of unity because our priority then was for him (Guico) to be elected as national president,” Alarcio, who readily withdrew from the race, said.
A mayor must be elected first as president of the league of his province to qualify for a national position in the LMP. A mayor from Mindoro won the LMP presidency.
It will be recalled that Guico’s dad, former Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico II, was also president of LMP during the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo, his cousin. His son tried his luck but failed as he was reportedly counting on the support from Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno whose wife is from Binalonan town and a relative of the Guicos, sources said.
But even with the short stint of Guico as their president, Alarcio lauded him for being able to negotiate for a provision of a lot by the provincial government within the sprawling Capitol complex in Lingayen town that would serve as the site for a building that the mayors, vice mayors and councilors can use.
Alarcio led a meeting of mayors Thursday in a hotel in Dagupan City where the police presented the concept for the 911 rescue operation that would be adopted in Pangasinan towns. (Tita Roces)
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