I'm presenting myself as a viable alternative to the people--Lauron
Atty. Zafiro Tirador Lauron, "Boy" to family, relatives and friends, has no delusions that his upcoming battle against Cong. Arthur Defensor for the right to represent Iloilo's third district in Congress would be an easy one. Fact is, he's the first to say he faces an uphill climb in next year's elections, what with an acknowledged political Goliath like Defensor for a rival.
"I'm not one who would kid myself and say I'll win the elections over Cong. Defensor just as easily. I acknowledge the fact that he is considered as a giant in Iloilo politics and it would be very difficult to beat him. I'm simply presenting myself to the people of the third district as a viable alternative, believing as I do that I could be of better service to my fellow Ilonggos than I am now," said the prominent lawyer, the only son among the three children of the late Judge Cornelio Lauron of Lambunao and the former Leonor Tirador of Pototan, a sister of former congressman, governor and mayor and now Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Licurgo Tirador.
Lauron, who only recently announced his intention to throw his hat into Iloilo politics, finished his Bachelor of Laws at the San Beda College, where he was a consistent dean's lister and scholar on top of being president of the Supreme Student Council. He earned his AB Political Science degree from the University of San Agustin, where he graduated cum laude despite being a student activist. Now on the 22nd year of a successful and lucrative corporate law practice, he is presently a major partner of the Quezon City-based Lauron, Delos Reyes and Partners Law Office, one of the most reputable law firms in the country today.
This early, reports from the third district show overwhelming support for Lauron in the barangays, with different sectors pledging him their support come election day.
Asked if he would be able to do the rounds of the district's more or less 400 barangays in just seven months' time, Lauron expressed confidence he can, saying he had already even reached barangays where Defensor never had set foot in since becoming congressman.
Pressed to reveal the probable mayoralty candidates that would run under his ticket, Lauron said he already has the names of those who would support his congressional bid.
"Right now, everything is still fluid and I cannot as of yet be certain of anything. Still, I have conducted initial talks with some of them and got some measure of commitment from them," he said, refusing to name those who would join him in his bid to unseat Defensor as the district's representative to Congress.