Pacificador not quitting race

Former Antique Assemblyman Arturo Pacificador, alleged brains in the 1986 killing of former governor Evelio Javier, said yesterday he has reconsidered his plan to withdraw his bid in the gubernatorial race because of the "demand" of his supporters.

Pacificador, who is detained at the provincial jail with his petition for bail still pending with the Antique Regional Trial Court, said his supporters want him to continue with his candidacy even if he cannot campaign.

Last month, he said he would withdraw his candidacy this week if his petition for bail is rejected by the Antique court.

Pacificador told The STAR in a telephone interview that he is no longer withdrawing upon the insistence of his supporters.

"I already have supporters in each town of Antique who could help me even if I remain in jail," he said.

He said he has more than 200 leaders in all 18 towns of the province, and that they will wage a full-blown campaign for him after the Holy Week.

Francis Gideon Javier, son of the slain governor, said he considers Pacificador "a nuisance candidate."

"He has been running in the past three elections. We don’t consider him a threat to other gubernatorial candidates," Javier said.

The other candidates for governor are former Under—secretary Sally Zaldivar-Perez of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and Vice Gov. Damian Marfil.