ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. shrugged off the recent oath-taking of eight 2nd District mayors as new members of the Nacionalista Party.
His son, gubernatorial aspirant Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the 3rd District, may just spring a surprise on election day, he said.
Defensor Jr. is the presumptive candidate for governor of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
According to the elder Defensor, possibly only one or two mayors in the 2nd District would not be supportive of his son.
“Ang pagsumpa na ‘ya sa partido nagapangita na sang pasilungan. Pero at the end of the day, ang tanan nga mga mayors except one or two sa bilog nga 2nd District mabulig na kay Toto Defensor,” said the governor.
The eight 2nd District mayors who took their oath as members of the Nacionalista Party on Saturday night, Aug. 11, were Michael Gorriceta of Pavia, Dennis Superficial of Santa Barbara, Geefre Alonsabe of Alimodian, Christian Sorongon of New Lucena, John Tarrosa of Zarraga, Marina Gorriceta of San Miguel, Rolito Cahilig of Leon (represented by Vice Mayor Ma. Lina Holipas), and Adolfo Jaen of Leganes (represented by Sangguniang Bayan member Leo Jun Jaen).
As Nacionalista Party members, said Gorriceta, they would be supporting the gubernatorial bid of Nacionalista member Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District.
Governor Defensor also welcomed the results of a survey showing his son leading Biron in the race for governor.
This was despite the fact, he said, that mayors from five districts in the province have yet to endorse his son.
He also said the vice gubernatorial running mate of Congressman Defensor Jr. may be known next week.
It is the running mate who would do the confirmation and announcement, said the elder Defensor.
“Ang kay Congressman Biron nga ma-vice governor ginapangita ‘ya pa man na. Ang kay Toto yara na, galing indi lang si Toto or ako ang ma-anunsyar,” said Defensor.
The running mate could possibly come from the 1st District, he added.
The 1st District is the acknowledged bailiwick of the politically influential Garin family.
The current vice governor is Christine Garin but she already announced she won’t be seeking reelection.
The rest of his son’s PDP-Laban lineup would be announced much later, said Defensor./PN
