4-cornered vice guv fight in the offing?
Days into the last stretch of filing of the certificates of candidacy, a repeat of the scenario in the 2001 elections is imminent with administration bets set to run against each other.
For instance, the vice governorship in the Province of Iloilo is expected to see the in-house bout of expected aspirant Guimbal Mayor Richard Garin of the ruling Lakas Party and yet another aspirant Board Member Manny Gallar who has just pledged his allegiance to the administration's KAMPI Party.
A third party bet is also eyed with the on-and-off Lakas transfer of opposition leader Fifth District Representative Rolex Suplico. From governor, latest talks had Suplico on the vice-governor seat reportedly as the running-mate of gubernatorial bet, incumbent Vice Governor Roberto "Obet" Armada.
This as early tie-ups had the Armada-Garin as "unrealistic" with sources telling The News Today (TNT) that the Guimbal Mayor was open to a Suplico for Governor tie-up rather than him as running mate of Armada.
If plans for the trio continue then, the fourth bet for Iloilo vice governor will include the only certain opposition from the contenders in Fourth District Board Member Domingo Oso Jr. as running mate of re-electionist Governor Niel Tupas.
"With or without Armada as my governor, I am running for vice governor," Gallar said in a TNT interview yesterday. "Kabalo ka indi pareho sa ila wala man ko ya kuarta (You see unlike them I really do not have the money) but I am already assured of my official nomination as KAMPI candidate."