It's Angara-Angara in Aurora

Mamer Bañez
(www.journal.com.ph)
October 05, 2012

Baler, Aurora -- The Angaras are fielding an Angara-Angara tandem in this province in the May 2013 elections, reminiscent of the 2007 polls.

This after the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino in the province supported outgoing Sen. Edgardo Angara as its standard-bearer for governor with his nephew, Rommel Rico Teh Angara, as his running mate.

Rommel -- son of the senator's younger brother, ex-Mayor Joselito -- was the 2007 running mate of outgoing Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo. He lost to the senator's gubernatorial rival, incumbent Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras.

His 2007 debacle, however, was blamed by their own supporters to his being a neophyte politician who did not spend much time in the campaign trail and who was reportedly junked by one of their then-trusted allies in favor of Noveras.

The decision to field an Angara-Angara team was finalized during the party's caucus held in Angara-Castillo's resident.

"Actually ayaw ko ng Angara-Angara tandem kaya naman hanggan sa huli ay nagpapahiwatig pa ako na sana makasama ko si Noveras," Sen. Angara told newsmen during breakfast in Café de Rosa in Bgy. Sabang.

Rommel, 33 -- chief of staff of the senator's son Rep. Juan Edgardo -- was nominated by Maria Aurora Mayor Ariel Bitong who was earlier rumored to be the senator's running mate. Bitong would instead run as vice mayor in his town in tandem with mayoral aspirant, incumbent Vice Mayor Amado Geneta.

Rommel's endorsement was unanimously supported by the Angaras' political leaders in the eight towns of the province.

Rommel said he was accepting his endorsement with mixed emotions. He said actually, he was preparing to run for board member when the endorsement came in.

He showed reporters a copy of his draft certificate of candidacy for board member in the first district. "It was supposed to be Mayor Bitong who would run for vice gov but ironically, it was him who endorsed me," he said.