ILOILO – Cong. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. (3rd District) and Barotac Viejo’s Mayor Niel “Beng” Tupas filed their certificates of candidacy for governor and vice governor, respectively, yesterday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office in La Paz, Iloilo City.
They are the candidates of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Defensor is running against Nacionalista Party’s (NP) Cong. Ferjenel Biron.
Tupas, on the other hand, is challenging Biron’s running mate, reelectionist Vice Gov. Christine Garin.
Biron and Garin filed their COCs on Oct. 11.
“This is going to be an interesting fight,” said Defensor.
The 3rd District is the acknowledged political bailiwick of Defensor. Tupas is expected to deliver more votes for him from the 5th District.
Meanwhile, Biron, whose turf is the 4th District, is seen to get a boost from the 1st District where Garin is from.
“Gusto ko mabal-an kon bala tagaan man ako sang mga pumoluyo sang Iloilo sang tsansa nga mangalagad kag magdumala sang probinsya,” said Defensor.
Soon, said the son of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., he and Tupas would be baring their plans and programs for the province.
“Iplastar ko sang husto ang akon kaugalingon kag ang akon nga tuyo para sa probinsya and then we will let people decide,” said Defensor.
He stressed the importance of being attuned to the concerns of ordinary Ilonggos.
“Ang akon panghimanwa deretso sa mga tawo kag ang akon pagdumala nagakadto gid sa barangay sang personal. Kon gusto nila masugilanon si Toto kadto sila sa balay, way agyan nga sekretarya. Bukas ang amon balay,” said Defensor.
He also reiterated that PDP-Laban won’t be fielding candidates for Provincial Board member in the 1st District, the political bailiwick of the Garins, because incumbent and reelectionist Provincial Board members Renee Valencia and Valentin Serag of the NP are his friends.
In the 2nd District, PDP-Laban has only one candidate for Provincial Board member – former party-list (1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy) congressman Atty. Salvador “Kiting” Cabaluna III.
In the 3rd District, PDP-Laban’s candidates for Provincial Board member are Lambunao’s Mayor Jason Gonzales and Bingawan’s Vice Mayor Matt Palabrica.
Defensor said he has no candidate yet for Provincial Board in the 4th District while in the 5th District he has one – Sangguniang Bayan member Aries Tedoco of Sara, Iloilo.
Defensor said he won’t be endorsing any candidate for congressman in the 1st, 2nd and 5th districts because those running for the post there are his friends (Cong. Raul Tupas and former congressman Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas in the 5th District; Cong. Richard Garin in the 1st District; Mayor Michael Gorriceta of Pavia in the 2nd District).
In the 4th District, on the other hand, “May posibilidad nga may mag-file,” said Defensor, but “I don’t want to make any pronouncement kay temprano pa.”
In the 3rd District, PDP-Laban’s candidate for congressman is Defensor’s brother, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Lorenz Defensor./PN
