LP to field Celino in city’s mayoral race, what about Bermejo?
ROXAS CITY – Does the move of the Liberal Party (LP) to field ex-City Vice Mayor Alan Celino as the party’s bet for the mayoral race mean that City Mayor Vicente Bermejo is already kicked out from the party?
Celino answered yes, when interviewed by RMN-dyVR’s Straight to the point” program anchored by Station Manager Ely Abarra. However, Celino’s statement is considered by Bermejo’s camp as unofficial until it is announced by Sen. Roxas himself.
Celino confirmed that he and his father businessman Angel Celino were called on Wednesday by Sen. Roxas in their residence in Cubao, Manila to discuss the plan for 2010 where he was told to be the LP’s official candidate for city mayor to oppose Bermejo in 2010 election.
Celino, who was an LP member for nine years, bolted from the party in 2004 when he run and won against Roxas’ bet Former Vice Mayor Roberto Ignacio.
In the 2007 elections, he ran for congressman in the First District of Capiz but he lost to former Mayor Antonio del Rosario.
Earlier, Bermejo’s camp claimed that the incumbent mayor is still in the LP and pledged support to Sen. Roxas’s vice presidential bid.
However, he said that he is ready to be kicked out from the party saying that only the people of the city could unseat him as city mayor and not the LP.
LP is rumored to drop Bermejo from the party since the latter is allegedly associated with former Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante Ugyon Kita Capiz.
But City Liga President Wilson Acervo strongly denied that Bermejo and allies are associated with Bolante.
Acervo said that if that is so, they are confident to win as the 38 village chiefs will be solid on their support to Bermejo’s reelection bid in next year’s election.
