Sen. Roxas keen on Celino’s fight vs Bermejo
ROXAS CITY – Sen. Mar Roxas, Liberal Party (LP) president, told former Vice Mayor Allan Celino that the fight between him and incumbent City Mayor Vicente Bermejo in the 2010 mayoral race is not his (Celino) fight but that of the senator.
This was revealed by businessman Angel Celino which he heard during the meeting with son Alan and Sen. Roxas in Cubao, Manila last week.
“It’s not your fight but mine, if you lose in the city, I have no face to show Noynoy Aquino,” Roxas said as quoted by Celino.
Roxas, vice presidential running mate of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said that he likes the way Celino fought against the dominant party in 2004 and 2007.
“It was a guerilla type of fighting thus, see to it that we will win the fight in Roxas City,” Roxas reportedly said.
Last Wednesday, the father and son were called by Sen. Roxas at 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.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Usec. Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante belittles Celino’s winnability in the city mayoral race against Bermejo.
“If Atty. Lozano filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for president last week, then Celino has the right to run for city mayor,” Bolante said in an interview with Noel Valentino over Arrangkada program shown at Channel 5 Alto Cable TV.
“I don’t how Celino could justify to the people of Roxas City what he said before that he doesn’t want Roxas and former City Mayor Antonio del Rosario, now 1st district congressman, to reign in Capiz,” Bolante said.
Bolante said that Celino has eaten his words against Roxas and Del Rosario in 2007 election “but now he wants Roxas and del Rosario”.
In reaction to Bolante’s statement, Celino wondered why Bolante is so worried about the development of his political career. “Are they afraid of me” the former vice mayor asked.
Mr. Rosauro Del Castillo, one of the trusted generals of Roxas, defended Celino by saying said that the problem of Celino was already justified by him in 2007, and it is Bolante who should explain to the people of Capiz why his name was involved in the P728 million fertilizers scam.
