Albano: I can never run from a good fight

CABAGAN, Isabela — Earning a new moniker as "Mr. Better Alternative," former congressman, now Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr. has described himself as a "dutiful soldier" amid calls for him to square off with Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca in a recall election.

"Like a dutiful soldier, I can never run from a good fight," said Albano who celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday.

The Albanos’ hometown is Cabagan, which is known for its pancit cabagan.

Albano said he has been receiving text messages since last year urging him to run against Padaca as the recall move, described by some mayors as "unstoppable," has started to gain ground in 25 of Isabela’s 35 towns and one city.

"The text messages have kept on pouring in since last year even before the news about the recall came out in the newspapers," he said.

Albano said he has been receiving an average of two to three text messages daily from people who did not identify themselves.

He, however, denied having any hand in the recall move although he has been bruited about as Padaca’s most worthy opponent should the recall election push through.

A number of "Rudy or nothing" banners dot the Maharlika Highway from Cordon to Cabagan town, apparently to convince Albano to openly declare his bid.

Earlier, second district Rep. Edwin Uy, considered as Padaca’s political godfather, threatened to file an impeachment case against commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) who would approve the recall election.

Fourth district Rep. Anthony Miranda, another key ally of Padaca, vowed to block the move to unseat Padaca despite the opposing stance of his brother, former Santiago City mayor Jose Miranda, who has declared his "preference" for Albano.

"I have nothing to do with the recall move whatsoever. I am happily working with the ERC and I have plenty of things to look into that can help the country solve its economic problems," said Albano, whose term as ERC chairman ends in 2008.

He, however, said that he would not turn his back if Isabelinos, who he said he has been serving for the past 40 years, would prod him.

"That’s why I do not come often here (Isabela) because every time I attend gatherings they introduce me as the next governor," he said.

He also denied reports that he was summoned to Malacañang and was directed by President Arroyo "to go home and help fix Isabela" although he admitted having a meeting with her.

"In two occasions, I had a meeting with President Arroyo at the Palace but we did not discuss nor did she mention anything about the recall issue," he said.

Albano, a contemporary and key ally of the late Faustino Dy Sr., Isabela’s longest serving governor, was a regional trial court judge prior to his election as a member of the defunct Batasan Pambansa.

A son of the late Isabela governor Delfin Albano, he was unopposed in his three consecutive terms as a member of the House of Representatives. He was the majority floor leader in the 9th, 10th and 11th Congress.

The Albanos, along with a majority of the re-electionist mayors, supported the re-election bid of former governor Faustino Dy Jr., whom Padaca, a broadcaster-turned-politician, trounced.

But nine months into her three-year term, Padaca has been getting flak for what her critics allege to be her "pure talk, less implementation" style of governance.

Padaca, in her one-hour radio program Gob. Grace aired every Saturday over dwSI in Santiago City, lambasted the local media for allegedly agitating the recall move.

She scored the local media for not reporting her administration’s efforts in alleviating the plight of poor Isabelinos.

In a resolution passed last week, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan expressed their support for the administration of Padaca.