Arroyos assure Lapid of Lakas’ Senate slot

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and presidential son Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo have reportedly assured Gov. Lito Lapid of a slot in the Senate ticket of the administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

Lapid, however, is slated to file his candidacy for congressman in Pampanga’s first district in case last-minute changes boot him out of the Lakas list.

Fidel Arcenas, Lapid’s spokesman and chief political adviser, told The STAR that the governor’s senatorial candidacy is "highly probable."

"First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Mikey, too, have assured him he would be among the 12 senatorial candidates of Lakas. Now we are just waiting for the confirmation of (President Arroyo)," he said.

But Arcenas said Lapid would still file his candidacy for congressman in the first district "just in case any last-minute changes happen (that would displace Lapid from the senatorial ticket)."

Lapid earlier announced he would run for mayor of Angeles City as incumbent Lakas Mayor Carmelo Lazatin initially planned to run for congressman in the first district against Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) Rep. Francis Nepomuceno, whose younger brother Robin would seek the mayoral post.

But the pending approval of a bill making Angeles City a lone congressional district, separating it from Mabalacat and Magalang towns, has changed the city’s political landscape.

During his three terms as congressman up to 1996, Lazatin got his votes from the two municipalities, while Nepomuceno dominated Angeles.

According to political observers, the redistricting would affect Lazatin’s chances of succeeding in his bid in the lone city district.

There has been talk that Lakas-CMD officials have been trying to convince the Nepomucenos not to oppose Lazatin in the mayoral race in exchange for the administration party not fielding a candidate against Rep. Nepomuceno.

These reports, however, have been doused by Lapid’s alternative plan to run for congressman in the pending lone district, and Robin Nepomuceno’s filing of his candidacy for mayor under the NPC.

Lapid was reported to have considered running for senator upon the prodding of Malacañang, particularly after movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. announced his intention to run for president.

Provincial administrator Benalfre Galang said Lapid could not turn down the offer of no less than the President for him to run for senator.

"Now, Lapid’s priority is to run for the Senate. But he will file his congressional candidacy while awaiting the President’s confirmation of his senatorial candidacy after which he will pull out his congressional bid," he said.

In the new district comprising Mabalacat and Magalang, Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales and provincial board member Joseller "Yeng" Guiao have reiterated their plans to run for Congress. Both of them are with Lakas-CMD.