Panay mayor belies pledging support to Bolante
PANAY, Capiz – Mayor Dante Bermejo of this town strongly denied that he attended the dinner called by former Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante last Feb. 28 at Villa Patria where he reportedly pledged his support to the former agriculture official.
“I was not there and I’ve never pledged my support to Jocjoc Bolante,” Bermejo said adding that he was in Cebu City with Sen. Mar Roxas, Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. and provincial tourism officer Al Teroso to attend the opening ceremony of One Visayas in Cebu City during that time.
Bermejo added he never met former Gov. Jose “Ting” Borda and Bolante to talk about the latter's political plans in the 2010 election.
Ealier, Borda told TNT that the vice governor, nine incumbent municipal mayors in the 2nd district of Capiz and 5 others declared support for Bolante’s bid for governor next year.
Borda said those who pledged support for Bolante are: incumbent Vice Governor Felipe Barredo, Dao Mayor Joselito “Bobo” Escutin, Cuartero Mayor Roger Flores, Dumarao Mayor Leslie Warren “Beboy” Benjamen, Dumalag Mayor Lilia Castro, Tapaz Mayor Rosemarie Gardose, Jamindan Mayor Ethel Jinon, Mambusao Mayor Jose “Joe” Alba, Ivisan Mayor Ipe Yap, and Sapian Mayor Arturo “Turic” Orosco, Sr.
Others are former Sigma Mayor Roberto “Sigbur” Sualog, Incumbent Vice Mayor Victoria Quirao, Former Panay Vice Mayor and now Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Edwin Benliro
Borda clarified that he never mentioned the presence of Bermejo, former Pontevedra Mayor Jojie Avelino and Board Member Winston Advincula during the dinner and that he never said that they pledged support to Bolante.
“I think I was only misquoted when I was interviewed about the issue,” Borda said in the morning program of RMN-DYVR hosted by Ely Abarra..
Borda however admitted saying that he expects Bermejo, Avelino and Advincula to support Bolante although he was not sure of it.
Provincial Administrator Zoe Herrera, in reaction to the published report, said that the USWAG Capiz local coalition under Sen. Mar Roxas is still intact. The local coalition he was referring to is the Liberal Party with 1st district Cong. Antonio del Rosario, Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., Vice Gov. Felipe Barredo and City Mayor Vicente Bermejo with Lakas-NUCD/Kampi of 2nd District Cong. Fredenil Castro and 16 municipal mayors.