Pacificador running for Antique vice gov

ILOILO CITY — The candidacy of former assemblyman Arturo Pacificador for vice governor is hinged on the outcome of the Evelio Javier murder case for which he has been in jail since February 2000.

"If I win the case, then I will continue to campaign," he said.

Pacificador was implicated in the assassination of Javier, a former Antique governor who was gunned down on Feb. 12, 1986 at the provincial capitol during the canvassing of votes in the snap presidential polls.

Javier was a supporter of then presidential candidate Corazon Aquino, who ran against Ferdinand Marcos with whom Pacificador was allied.

Pacificador said he rested his case last Dec. 5 and he expects Antique Regional Trial Court Judge Rudy Castrojas to hand down his verdict before the May 10 polls.

An emissary filed Pacificador’s certificate of candidacy last Jan. 5 with the Commission on Elections’ provincial office in the absence of any court order for him to personally do so.

Pacificador is running as an independent against Lakas-CMD’s Rhodora Cadiao, running mate of Roberto Operiano, and Liberal Party’s Eric Otayde, running mate of re-electionist Gov. Sally Salvacion-Perez.

In 2001, Pacificador ended up third in the gubernatorial race, behind Perez and Damian Marfil.

Pacificador said he opted to run for vice governor this time for lack of campaign funds although, he added, he still has many supporters. — Leo Solinap