6 Pampanga pols bare 2004 plans

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — This early, six provincial politicians, including this city’s physician-mayor, have bared their plans to run for new positions in the 2004 elections.

At least three of them are running for Pampanga governor. Presidential son Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo is still unsure whether to join the fray or run for congressman instead.

Mayor Reynaldo Aquino officially announced his plan to run for congressman in Pampanga’s third district during a press conference here over the weekend.

Aquino is on his third and last term as mayor of this capital city. The incumbent third district congressman, Oscar Rodriguez, is on his last term. Both of them belong to the administration Lakas-NUCD party.

Rodriguez has made it known that he intends to run for governor against two-termer Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc of Pampanga’s fourth district, a member of the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Earlier, Gov. Lito Lapid said President Arroyo had given her go-signal to field his son Mark as gubernatorial candidate. Mark is the chairman of the provincial Association of Barangay Captains. Father and son are both with the administration coalition.

Lapid, serving his third and last term as governor, has announced his plan to run for mayor of Angeles City, where Mayor Carmelo Lazatin is also on his last term.

Lazatin intends to run for Congress against Rep. Francis Nepomuceno of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Vice Gov. Arroyo is definite in pursuing his political career beyond 2004, but he has yet to announce whether he would also seek the governorship or run for Congress in Pampanga’s second district.

Second district Rep. Zenaida Ducut has bared plans to retire from politics. There are reports, however, that Rodriguez is eyeing Ducut as his vice gubernatorial bet.

Pampanga is likely to have a fifth congressional district whose creation is the subject of Nepomuceno’s bill.

The measure, expected to be passed in time for the 2004 elections, proposes to separate Angeles City from the district composed of Mabalacat, Magalang and Porac.