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Quezon has compelling reasons for voting against Team P-Noy -- Suarez



If the huge turn out of people in the  rally  of  United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) over the weekend  in Lucena, would be an indication, Team P-noy had a lot of work to do to win in Quezon Province, one of the vote-richest provinces in the country.

No less than House minority leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) welcomed UNA's candidates at the Quezon provincial capitol which Quezonians filled to the rafters.

Amid the festive atmosphere, provincial goverment workers believe there were about 17,000 supporters who trooped to the provincial capitol to welcome UNA candidates led by Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Suarez is a staunch ally of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a bitter rival of UNA stalwart former President Joseph Estrada.

Despite this, Suarez said he and Estrada have good relations. He also told reporters that his party is inclined to support UNA's senatorial bets even if the two parties do not have an official alliance.
For one, Suarez's son, Quezon Gov. David "JayJay" Suarez of the National Unity Party, is running against Rep. Irvin Alcala of the Liberal Party in the gubernatorial race. Then Lakas member Rep. Mitos Magsaysay is also with UNA.

Suarez also cited the administration's failure to stop the fall in the price of copra, and the importation and smuggling of palm oil, which hurt coconut farmers in Quezon.

"We have compelling reasons  for voting against the administration candidates," Suarez added.

However, he said Lakas may still include a number of Liberal Party bets in the list of candidates it will support, which it will announce on April 10.

Earlier  UNA candidates composed of  Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, Nancy Binay and former  Tarlac Governor Tingting Cojuangco joined the motorcade starting off in Tiaong passing through  Sariaya, and  Candelaria. 

Political families dominate electoral contest in Quezon
With 1.17 million registered voters, Quezon is one of the vote-richest provinces in the country where political dynasties dominate electoral contests.

Suarez family has been in politics for 23 years. Rep. Suarez is serving his third and last term as a member of the House of Representatives representing Quezon’s third congressional district. In the midterm elections, his wife, former congresswoman Aleta Suarez, will run for the post he would vacate.

His son, Jay-Jay, is seeking reelection as governor or the province while another son, Jet Suarez is a board member.

Suarez has served in the House from 1992 to 2001, and again from 2004 up to the present.

Opposing the Suarezes in Quezon are Rep. Irvin Alcala, son of agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, and Samuel Nantes, only son of the late Quezon Gov. Rafael Nantes, who are running for governor and vice governor respectively  under the banner of the Liberal Party.

Incumbent Vice Gov. Vicente ‘Kulit’ Alcala, who underwent a kidney transplant operation early last year  prompted his younger brother, Department of Agriculture Sec. Alcala, to ask him to step back and run for 2nd Dist. Congressman instead.

The vice governor, who has been preparing for his gubernatorial run since their political rift with Gov.  Suarez last year, reluctantly yielded for his nephew, Irvin.

JayJay's runningmate is 2nd District board member Romano Talaga.

Board Member Talaga  is the son of the incumbern Lucena city mayor  Ruby Talaga and ex-Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr.

In other congressional district races in Quezon, reelectionist Cong. Mark Enverga (NPC) is expected to breeze through with a congressional rival from the camp of out-going Lucban Mayor, Bonbon Villasenor in the 1st district; in the 2nd Dist., vice gov. Alcala will be up in a 4-cornered fight with 3 ladies, Mrs. Talaga (UNA), ex-congresswoman Lynnette Punzalan (Independent) and Keigoutina Suarez (Lakas); while in the 4th Dist., Wigberto Tañada Jr., son of his namesake father and brother to last termer Cong. Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tañada III, is facing a  challenge from Dra. Angelina “Helen” Tan, wife of former 4th Dist. Quezon-DPWH chief  Ronnel Tan. A scion of the well-entrenched Tanada family, businessman Alvin S. Tanada filed for congressional seat on the last day of filing of CoC for Lapiang Manggagawa.

Meanwhile, in Lucena city mayoralty and vice mayoralty race, the LP is fielding vice mayor Rhoderick Alcala as mayor with his runningmate Philip Castillo as against comebacking ex-mayor Ramon Talaga with his young son as running mate, city councilor Ramil Talaga.

Commenting on issues on political dynasty, Rep. Suarez has said  that  it was his family's destiny and that they were elected "because we’re doing the right thing."

Section 26 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits political dynasties. The provision says that “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Congress, however, has yet to pass a law defining the terms and scope of this constitutional provision.

TEXT & PHOTO/S BY LEONY R. GARCIA

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