ILOILO – Three-term mayor Dennis Superficial of the municipality of Santa Barbara is running for congressman of the 2nd District.
He is clashing with Pavia, Iloilo’s Mayor Michael Gorriceta, son of incumbent Cong. Arcadio Gorriceta.
Superficial, a physician, announced his congressional bid on Monday and filed his certificate of candidacy yesterday.
Superficial is running under the National Unity Party (NUP) which has locally aligned itself with the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP- Laban). He is thus supporting the PDP-Laban candidate for governor Cong. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.
Gorriceta of the Nacionalista Party (NP), on the other hand, backs his party’s gubernatorial bet, Cong. Ferjenel Biron.
Superficial said he decided to run for congressman to give the people of the 2nd District an option.
Pavia’s Mayor Gorriceta is seeking to succeed his father who, while still eligible for a third consecutive term in Congress, has decided to retire from politics for health reasons.
“Kon i-rate ko okay man,” said Superficial when asked about his assessment of Congressman Gorriceta’s performance.
He stressed the foremost job of a congressman is to make laws.
Mayor Gorriceta, on the other hand, said he would be glad to continue the programs and projects of his father such as developing Bucari, Leon into a tourist destination, giving medical and burial assistance to the poor, livelihood assistance, building infrastructures such as roads and public schools in the 2nd District.
Superficial also announced yesterday NUP and PDP-Laban’s two candidates for Provincial Board member representing the 2nd District – former Board member Jun Mondejar and former part-list (1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy) representative Salvador “Kiting” Cabaluna III.
Mondejar and Cabaluna are running against NP’s outgoing Leon, Iloilo mayor Rolito Cahilig and former Leganes, Iloilo vice mayor Joseph Allen Españo./PN
