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[av_heading heading=’ Defensor plays down Biron’s show of force ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – Mayors from the 2nd, 4th and 5th districts attended the meeting that Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District held on Saturday.
Would this translate to election victory when the congressman runs for governor in the 2019 midterm elections?
“Ang importante ang decision sang pumoluyo. Of course, kon laban imo mayors, may advantage ka but it doesn’t necessarily translate into victory,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
Defensor’s son, 3rd District’s Cong. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., is interested to run for governor, too.
At the Saturday meeting, the mayors in attendance reportedly expressed support to Biron’s plan to run for governor.
According to the elder Defensor, many provincial governors won elections even with only a handful of mayors as supporters. He, however, did not give specific examples.
“Kag nagadaog kami sa election nga wala kwarta, wala kami pamakal boto,” added Defensor.
Biron is one of the richest members of the House of Representatives. In the 2013 elections, he ran for governor against Defensor and lost.
Defensor banks on the good name and reputation he built through the years.
“Si Nonoy (Lawrence) Defensor, nagdaog na ayhan landslide kon indi si Arthur Defensor tatay ‘ya? Si Toto Defensor, nagdaog ayhan tatlo ka beses practically wala kontra kon indi ‘ya tatay si Arthur Defensor?” said the governor.
Defensor’s son Lawrence is a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Last year’s election was his first time to join politics.
Arthur Jr., on the other hand, has been serving the 3rd District since 2010. He is now in his third and final consecutive term as congressman.
The governor confirmed that the congressmen from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th districts had a gentlemen’s agreement to field a common candidate for governor in the 2019 election. But he stressed this consensus was tentative.
“Liwaton ko ang insakto ko nga ginhambal sa ila. Siling ko indi ta pa man ‘ni ma-announce gid insigida kay indi pa man ini pinal nga decision kay malayo pa ang election,” said Defensor.
This meeting happened right after the 2016 elections.
“Amon sadto tentative nga sugilanon nga ma-meeting pa kami liwat,” said Defensor.
Many things can happen until 2019, he added, citing his recent decision to join the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of President Rdorigo Duterte.
“Kay nagkambyo ako partido, makontrolar ko bala ang PDP-Laban kon sin-o ang pakandidatuhon sa pagka-gobernador?” Defensor pointed out.
If the Garins, for instance, will be the choice of the party, Defensor stressed, more so that he could not insist on the gentlemen’s agreement on a common gubernatorial candidate.
“It doesn’t make sense. Ano pagdikta ta sa PDP-Laban,” he said.
Cong. Richard Garin of the 1st District, the provincial president of PDP-Laban in Iloilo, is believed to be interested in the governorship, too./PN
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