Political Tidbits
Gengos is it!
Former city councilor Vicente “Benjie” Gengos was chosen by the local united opposition to run for congressman of the city against the incumbent Raul Gonzalez Jr.
The decision was made last Wednesday during the group's meeting with their titular head Senator Franklin Drilon.
Gengos won over former city councilor Joshua Alim and Atty. Dan Cartagena. Incidentally, the three contenders are all lawyers.
Gengos said he is privileged to have been chosen as the united opposition's congressional candidate and he assured to give his best to meet the expectations of his peers.
Gengos is optimistic that he could do a good fight against the political machinery of the Gonzalezes.
“I am confident that the Ilonggo electorates know how to choose a better leader. I believe they are fully aware of the issues for which the administration is accountable,” Gengos said.
Alim, on the other hand, accepted the decision of the group and he vowed to rally behind Gengos and the rest of the united opposition slate.
Alim who wanted to become the group's congressional bet said he is willing to render a “supreme sacrifice” just for the good of the group.
With this development, Alim said he would run either for vice mayor or councilor depending on the group's decision.
To note, mayorable Mansueto Malabor had been given the leeway to choose who would compose the local opposition slate.
Presently, the group still does not have a candidate for vice mayor although there have been talks that Malabor is wooing Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga to be his running mate.
For the councilorables only former Vice Mayor Victor Facultad and incumbent councilor Perla Zulueta have so far confirmed their intention to run under the group.
Distura to challenge Biron
It's Dumangas Mayor Rolando Distura who will run against incumbent Rep. Ferjenel Biron in the fourth district of Iloilo.
This was confirmed by Distura himself in a radio interview Wednesday night. He said the consensus for him to run for congressman was made after Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, sister-in-law of Pres. Arroyo, reportedly settled to run under the partylist Kasangga.
Distura said he would be giving the people of the fourth district an alternative as he observed that the incumbent congressman does not fare well compared to his predecessor the late Congressman Narciso Monfort.
Meanwhile, Biron accepted Distura's challenge. He said it's the people who will judge about his performance in the fourth district.