Young So. Leyte mayor opts not to join Lakas
TACLOBAN CITY- Fearing that he might make a wrong decision, a young Southern Leyte mayor opted to stay in the Liberal party amidst persuasions from local Lakas-Kampi-CMD leaders.
Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte Mayor Rico Rentuza said that he is about to join the administration party when he started to notice that many politicians have been joining Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s party.
“I am still Liberal Party although there’s an invitation from Congressman and Governor to join Lakas. I was about to be sworn in the other day but I told them that I need more time to decide,” Rentuza told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
The official said that the defection in the administration party fueled his move to be with Aquino’s camp. Rentuza has been in the Liberal Party since he run for public office in 2007.
“It might be a wrong move (if I will join Lakas). Some personalities from Lakas are jumping ships to Liberal Party. I need to think about it because I don’t want to regret,” he added.
Among the known Lakas members who backed the tandem of Aquino and Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas are Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, her husband former Senator Ralph Recto, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista.
Had he sworn in to the new party, the young mayor was scheduled to attend the administration party convention yesterday.
The 36-year-old Rentuza said that Aquino’s good rating in the survey is also a good reason for him to stay in the Liberal Party,”
Meanwhile, Rentuza confirmed that there are rumors that former Congressman Ricardo Saludo of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino will join hands with former Governor Rosette Lerias of the Nationalist People’s Coalition in the 2010 polls against the Mercados in Southern Leyte.
“I just heard it from local officials. It’s very interesting if they will be united,” Rentuza stressed.
Rentuza will seek reelection next year reportedly against former Mayor Maria Lim’s daughter Jocelyn Lim-Bungcaras, the president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in the town. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
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