Former ERC chief guns for old Congress seat

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The grand old patriarch of Isabela’s still politically-influential Albano clan is out to reclaim the House seat he had occupied for almost two decades before being appointed as chairman of the Energy Regulations Commission.

One of the few remaining politicians of the 1960s, Rodolfo Albano Jr. filed the other day his candidacy for congressman in a bid not only to replace his son Rep. Rodito, who is now in his final term, but also to maintain their hold in Isabela’s first congressional district.

At 75, Albano, who has had one of the longest terms in Congress and is probably the region’s oldest candidate, declared he could still run for the post and overcome the rigors of the campaign despite his age.

“I am strong enough to run for Congress,” said Albano, who also once served as assemblyman in the interim Batasang Pambansa during the Marcos era.

“I hope (my father’s) age will not be used as issue to malign his candidacy,” said one of Albano’s sons, Palace Assistant Secretary Tonypet Albano.

The elder Albano, also a former Minister of the Civil Service, a forerunner of the now Civil Service Commission, will be facing Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, who withdrew from the administration party’s Senate ticket. 

Albano is a member of the Natonalist People’s Coalition (NPC), whose national chairman is former governor Faustino Dy Jr. 

Meanwhile, the Albanos and the Dys are still holding talks on who among their scions would be the one to run for Isabela governor against Gov. Grace Padaca or whoever she chooses to be her successor in case she decides to run for a House or Senate seat.

Further, Padaca, as of press time, has yet to make a final decision whether to run for reelection or gun for a Senate seat under the Liberal Party with the deadline of filing of candidacy tomorrow.

“If I were given the opportunity to choose, I would want a member of our family to run for governor,” said Albano, whose son Rodito had earlier declared to run for governor, only to withdraw from the race earlier this week in favor of outgoing third district Rep. Faustino Dy III.