Lapid junks proposals to run for Senate

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - Gov. Lito Lapid has definitely shelved proposals for him to run for the Senate in next year's elections, and will instead seek a third and last term as governor of this province.

"I have decided to pursue my last term as governor to finish (my remaining) tasks," Lapid told The STAR.

Before Lapid, who belongs to the opposition Lakas-NUCD, made this announcement, at least 14 local mayors, who also belong to his party, were reported to have expressed support for the gubernatorial bid of Lubao Mayor Lilia Pineda who is on her last mayoral term. Pineda has never belonged to any political party.

Earlier, Lapid said former President Ramos, the Lakas-NUCD honorary chairman, had informed him that their party would reserve a senatorial slot for him in next year's elections.

A survey reportedly showed Lapid ranking third in the list of possible senatorial bets.

Another gubernatorial aspirant, Arayat Mayor Benigno Espino, who belongs to the administration Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP), has opposed Lapid's running for the Senate and called for his resignation due to inefficiency.

There have been reports that fourth district Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc is also interested in running for governor, but will defer his plans if Lapid decides to seek another term.

While many local mayors have expressed support for Pineda, the Lubao mayor said her decision to run for governor would depend on the results of a survey which she has asked to be undertaken provincewide.

Pineda said she will run if at least 40 percent of the respondents will favor her gubernatorial bid.

Lapid won his first and second terms as governor by big margins. Before the 1998 elections, he abandoned the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) to join Lakas-NUCD.

He was reported to have earned the ire of President Estrada after he supported the presidential bid of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia in the 1998 elections.

The pending criminal and administrative charges against Lapid have earned for him the sympathy of his constituents who believe that the governor, who never finished college, was merely a victim of politics.

Lapid said his plan to enlist Mikey Arroyo as vice gubernatorial candidate will rest on the decision of the latter's mother, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.