SAN JOSE, Antique – Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) national president and chairman of the Board of Governors of the IBP Atty. Abdiel Dan Elijah Santillan Fajardo filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) here yesterday.
Fajardo, “Toto Ade” to neighbors and friends in Bagumbayan, Barangay 8, intends to use his vast knowledge and experience to craft laws beneficial to Filipinos, most especially to the best interest of Antiqueños as Representative of the Lone District of Antique in Congress.
Fajardo filed his COC under the banner of the Liberal Party. He has no local political teammates as of this writing but he is open for alliances.
According to Fajardo, his resumé, talent and skills, and experience as a lawyer are qualifications best fit for a position in Congress.
“Ang atun ginadara gugma, bukut kwarta. (What we bring here is love, not money).” The lawyer said he is a simple person with big dreams for the province of Antique.
Fajardo was born in March 1971 in San Jose, Antique. His parents are local businessman Daniel Gumban Fajardo (deceased) and Maria Gillesania Santillan who used to be a radio broadcaster at DYFJ owned and operated by the Pagtanac family in this town. The lawyer speaks fluent Kinaray-a, the language of the Antiqueños.
Fajardo also said his legislative measures will be anchored in going back to the basics like laws that affects the lives of the Antiqueños such as farmers and fisherfolks, and tax measures, among others.
The lawyer also said he will consider and support the proposal of dividing Antique into two districts as long as the province meets the requirements. According to him, this will help give more attention to the needs of the northern and southern parts of the province.
Fajardo, too, will push his father’s advocacy to “decriminalize libel” among media practitioners. This aims to give more voice and courage to journalists to speak freely of the truth. According to Fajardo, the case against the media must only be civil, not criminal.
As of this writing, Fajardo has two rivals for representative in the Lone District of Antique – former congressman Paolo Everardo Javier and Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda’s brother Antonio Agapito Legarda, Jr./PN
