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[av_heading heading=’WHO’S AFRAID OF THE GARINS? | Richard: Any of us could run for Iloilo governor’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ, Manila Reporter and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, April 4, 2017
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MANILA – Any of the three Garin siblings could run for governor of Iloilo in 2019, according to Cong. Richard Garin (1st District, Iloilo).
“Kun public servant ka, actually, you are open to all (political possibilities),” the congressman told Panay News.
Garin was reacting to his non-invitation in two recent meetings of four Iloilo congressmen and Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. In those meetings, the governor’s son, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the 3rd District, and Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District expressed interest to run for governor in 2019.
Garin said his sisters Christine and Sharon were also “very much qualified” to run for governor.
Christine is the incumbent Iloilo vice governor. Prior to her election last year, she served as mayor of Guimbal town.
Sharon, on the other hand, is a party-list congresswoman.
“Ako two-term congressman subong. We cannot discount the possibilities,” said Garin who served as vice governor of Iloilo, too, prior to his election to the Lower House.
Their parents are also active in local politics. Father Oscar served as congressman and now mayor of Guimbal while mother Ninfa, former congresswoman and member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, is currently the mayor of San Joaquin.
The young Garin said he had no ill-feelings toward Governor Defensor who initiated the two meetings with congressmen Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd District), Defensor Jr., Biron, and Raul Tupas (5th District) on March 18 and 29.
The congressman, however, reminded them that his district was “not just a part of Iloilo but a major part of the whole province.”
“Ang mga pumuluyo matingala lang nga-a wala ang 1st District (representative in the meetings),” said Garin.
He, however, said everything remains fluid for now.
“Siguro after a year or maybe a year and a half nga pagserbisyo mabatyagan mo na siguro kun ma-intra ka pa sa politika o indi na,” said Garin.
The congressman is the only member of the House of Representatives from Iloilo who is a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“Kun supported ka sang presidente may edge ka; (2019) is a midterm election, tunga-tunga sang term sang President. Pero wala pa man namon na estoryahan ang plano. Wala pa man advice,” said Garin.
Garin sought reelection under the Liberal Party last year. He joined PDP-Laban several weeks after. His vice governor sister ran under the National Unity Party, an affiliate of the Liberal Party.
According to Governor Defensor whose third and final consecutive term, ends in 2019, he and the four congressmen agreed to have a common candidate for governor in the midterm elections.
“There was a gentlemen’s agreement. Isa lang amon kandidato. Kun sin-o na, wala pa mabal-an,” he said.
Defensor recalled that after the elections last year, the five of them met.
“We decided to stick together for future electoral exercises in Iloilo,” the governor said. “We have a high sense of commonality in so far as our politics is concerned.”
In a previous interview, Garin said their family went all out for Governor Defensor in the 2016 elections.
“Maski gin anunsyo n’ya nga ang kandidato ya si Jun-jun Tupas for vice governor, ang mga Garin ara gihapon kay Defensor. Sang 2013 election, isa man ta ka factor. The Tupases and Garins, they were also factors nga nagdaog sya,” he said./PN
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