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BY GLENDA SOLOGATSOA
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Friday, December 16 2016
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ILOILO – In 2019 when his third and final consecutive term as governor comes to an ends, Arthur Defensor Sr. said he will retire from politics.
He dismissed rumors that he will be running for mayor of Iloilo City.
“Who’s making that story up? Running for mayor of Iloilo City never crossed my mind,” said Defensor who served as congressman of Iloilo’s 3rd District for three consecutive terms (2001-2004, 2004-2007, 2007-2010).
Defensor is from the town of Mina but also maintains a house in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
“Mapahuway na ako ‘ya sa pulitika,” the governor stressed, dismissing the rumors of his supposed plan to seek Iloilo City’s mayorship.
Defensor also served as governor of Iloilo from 1992 to 2001.
“Demokrasya ‘ni. Wala sang may makapilit sa imo kon indi ka imo ya,” he stressed.
Defensor’s provincial administrator, Raul Banias, also recently addressed rumors that a group of businessmen was backing his possible candidacy for city mayor in 2019.
Banias is a resident of Concepcion, Iloilo but owns a house in this city and has been living in the metro for over 20 years now.
When he was asked about this group of businessmen supposedly backing him up, Banias courtly replied: “I do not say yes, I don’t say no…We will see. Katulad man ni Governor), never say no anay. Tan-awon ta ang sitwasyon.”
But Defensor’s pronouncement yesterday was a clear “no” to the possibility of his running for city mayor.
Two weeks ago, Iloilo City’s Cong. Jerry Treñas announced he would be quitting politics by 2019. He then endorsed his brother-in-law Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III for mayor and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for congressman.
“Kon wala ka sang kontra ti ngaa abi indi ka magdalagan? Kung may kontra ka, i-assess mo man ang kontra mo basi indi ka kasarang,” Banias told capitol reporters.
Banias is a registered voter and resident of Concepcion, Iloilo. He served as mayor of the northern coastal municipality from 1998 to 2007. But nothing also bars him from switching residences or transferring his voter’s registration./PN
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