Lapid buys Angeles mansion for P16 M

ANGELES CITY, Philippines   â€“ Sen. Lito Lapid has reportedly bought a mansion worth P16 million in Barangay Pampang in this city, apparently in preparation for his plan to run for mayor here in 2016.

Former Pampanga first district congressman Carmelo Lazatin confirmed to The STAR Lapid’s plan to run for mayor of this city, noting the senator personally sought his support during the house’s blessing ceremony on Saturday.

“I told him I would support him,” said Lazatin, who lost his mayoral bid against a former ally, incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, in the 2010 mayoral polls.

Lazatin described Lapid’s new house as “like a castle” with a small swimming pool. “He bought it from a Korean,” he said.

Lazatin’s chief of staff, Irish Calaguas, said Lapid bought the three-story house located at Friendship Plaza Subdivision for P16 million.

“The property could be no less than 1,000 square meters,” Calaguas said.

He said eight village chairmen of this city attended the house blessing.

“I think Lapid will win 100 percent against Edong (Mayor Pamintuan),” he added.

Lazatin said Lapid is eyeing Willie Rivera, the chief legal counsel of detained Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee, to be his vice mayoral bet.

“Willie will also be his campaign manager,” he said.

In 2003, Lapid announced he was running for mayor of this city but his cabalen, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, persuaded him to run for senator instead in the 2004 polls.

It was not clear whether he had bought a house in this city in 2003.

After becoming governor and vice governor of Pampanga, Lapid ran for the Senate in 2004. He joined the coalition of Arroyo called Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4).

In 2007, Lapid ran for Makati mayor but was defeated by Jejomar Binay by a wide margin. He ran again for senator in 2010 under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. His term will end in 2016.

“I don’t know under which party he will run for mayor in 2016, but we all know how people change political parties these days,” Lazatin said, adding he expects Lapid to file before the Commission on Elections a petition for his voter’s registration address soon.

Lazatin said he would support Lapid as he has decided to retire from politics to concentrate on helping local farmers.