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[av_heading heading=’ Gasataya: Election not my priority’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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BACOLOD City – “Election is not my priority.”
Rep. Greg Gasataya refused to read so much into reports on some politicians’ alleged plans for the 2019 mid-term election.
An ally with the local political group Grupo Progreso (GP), Councilor Ricardo Tan, last week declared that he will run for congressman.
Stephen Paduano, the Negrense representative of the Abang Lingkod party-list, is also allegedly seeking the mayoral post.
Tan has all the right to run for whatever position he wants, Gasataya told the press on Tuesday. “It’s a matter nga indi mo mapunggan (that you cannot prevent).”
Tan and Gasataya may race against each other if the latter decides to seek re-election.
Gasataya stressed that he is and will remain a GP member.
Gasataya and Paduano are perceived to be close to Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd District), considered an influential political leader in Negros Occidental.
In a radio interview on Tuesday, Paduano said he will run for mayor of this capital city in 2019 if Benitez wants him to.
If Paduano runs against the incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia (assuming the latter seeks re-election), whom will Gasataya side with?
His answer was evasive. “Many stories and theories have come out, but we have to place everything in perspective,” said Gasataya. “We have to confirm things first before giving any comment.”
Right now the GP is not discussing politics “because this is not our priority,” he said. “Our priority now is work. The city is fortunate to have billions (of pesos worth) of infrastructure projects.”/PN
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