If there will be special elections held to fill the seat of the late Congressman Danilo Lagbas, the following are the contenders:
1. Jimmy Caina - Board Member
2. Peter “Sr. Pedro” Unabia - Board Member
3. Jeremy “Jigjag” Pelaez - Baord Member
4. Benedict Lagbas - Board Member and brother of Danilo Lagbas
5. Marie Guingona - daughter of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona
6. Danilo Lagbas Jr. - son of Congressman Lagbas
7. Rommel Maslog - Mayor of Talisayan, Misamis Oriental
8. Michael Paderanga - lawyer and son of former Gingoog City Mayor Miguel Paderanga
According to Governor Oscar Moreno, “Not so fast.” The good Governor prefers that the seat should remain vacant as a special election would only cause disunity among partymates. Four of the abovementioned contenders, Caina, Unabia, Lagbas and Pelaez belong to the ruling PaDayon Pilipino Party of the Governor.
Columnist Cris Diaz of Mindanao Gold Star Daily made some assessment of the prospects of some candidates in his column June 20, 2008 column “Probable Candidates”
First, Jimmy Caina, a self made man and a “favored” contractor. Caina already expressed apprehension in running because acording to him he has no election money to spend…
Unabia, touted to be the richest among the Provincial Board Members and a fraternal brother of the late Danilo Lagbas may like to run but he does not want to flaunt it…
Benedict Lagbas, a former town Mayor of Sugbongcogon is also being prodded by the late Congressman’s political leaders to consider the congressional seat. Will Benedict accept the challenge? It remains to be seen…
Jeremy “Jigjag” Pelaez may also join the political fracas if only to regain the Pelaez political legacy in the province…
Michael Paderanga, is likely to run to regain his lost political ground. Michael is a worthy candidate. Yet Michael should learn from his mistakes and not stick to the traditional campaign strategy.
Marie Guingona is considered a dark horse. But I find her a hesitant candidate who could not make up her mind. I think she would prefer to run only in Gingoog City since her mother Ruthie will end her term in 2010…
Meanwhile, Maslog thought of running for the mayor’s league in preparation for his Congressional debut come 2010. However after abandoning his intention of running for the Mayor’s league shortly after the 2007 local polls, I doubt Maslog’s interest…
However in other news reports, Maslog’s interest on the Congressional seat has not wavered. Accordingly, Maslog has already informed Mayor Dixon Yasay of Opol, the President of Misamis Oriental Mayor’s League of Municipalities about his plan to run for congressman. Maslog, who is serving his last office term as Mayor of Talisayan, is banking on the support of the seven town mayors in Eastern Misamis Oriental.
Meanwhile, Danilo “Junjun” Lagbas Jr, claimed to have been getting the endorsements from barangay chairpersons and town officials of the 1st District who supposedly want him to replace his father. Lagbas who said his father asked him to help in implementing infrastructure and livelihood projects in the 1st Distirct, said he and his family want to pursue what the late Congressman started.
This is going to be fun.
(With reports from Lito Rulona and Nilo Abroguena of the Mindanao Gold Star Daily)
