JDV launches re-election bid

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. launched his re-election bid yesterday as representative of Pangasinan’s fourth congressional district by filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) with the provincial election supervisor’s office.

"We have always made performance and achievement the heart of our politics," he told supporters.

"Our party, Lakas–CMD, is campaigning on the platform of performance. We want politics of unity and development. We should shun the politics of hate and division," he said.

Asked about his opponents, De Venecia said, "I wish them well. I wish they remain healthy. I also wish that they present the best possible program to our people. May the best man win."

Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim is challenging De Venecia’s re-election bid. The pro-administration party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) is reportedly not supporting Lim in deference to De Venecia, who is Lakas president.

The Speaker was accompanied by his wife Gina and thousands of supporters, including all mayors in his district except Lim, in filing his candidacy certificate at the Comelec provincial office.

De Venecia said he is now seriously campaigning for his third straight term.

He said he needs the excitement and exercise now that he is being challenged by Lim, since he had twice ran unopposed.

"Now I will sing and dance again, our cha-cha music (his campaign jingle) is nice, and I’m very happy," he said.

‘Shut up’ stages comeback

Didagen Dilangalen, the erstwhile spokesman for deposed President Joseph Estrada, filed his COC yesterday in his effort to stage a comeback as a congressman.

His wife, the incumbent Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sendig has filed her candidacy as mayor of Cotabato City, challenging re-electionist Mayor Datu Muslimin Sema.

Dilangalen will seek the first congressional representation of the fledgling Shariff Kabunsuan province.

Didagen was the representative of the first district of Maguindanao from 1998 to 2004, in which the new province of Shariff Kabunsuan was created in 2006 by the Regional Legislative Assembly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Though related to each other both by blood and by affinity, the Sema and Dilangalen families are intense political rivals.

Didagen earned the moniker "Mr. Shut Up" when he admonished his colleagues during impeachment proceedings against Estrada at the House of Representatives in 2000. – Eva Visperas, John Unson, Dino Balabo, Celso Amo, Cesar Ramirez, Teddy Molina, Raffy Viray