Shahani nixes FVR’s endorsement of Braganza

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 URDANETA CITY – Provincial Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani poo-poohed the endorsement of former President Fidel Ramos of Liberal Party’s gubernatorial bet Hernani Braganza. Shahani said if Braganza campaign efforts giveshim 10 percent voting share out of the 90 percent that went to his gubernatorial rival Governor Amado T. Espino before the endorsement, his survey stock would spike to 20 percent only against Espino’s 80 percent. Shahani and Braganza are second cousins, as their mothers former Senator Letecia Ramos-Shahani and Purita Agsalud-Braganza, are first cousins.
Shahani belittled in a press conference here the impact of Ramos’ raising the hand of Braganza as his anointed candidate. Shahani said Ramos did not raise the hand but instead held it as both prepared to leap. “No, so therefore that’s what you call the EDSA-1 jump my uncle thought President (Ferdinand) Marcos fled the country but actually andoon lang si MaCoy,” he stressed.
 FVR was in Asingan, Pangasinan last April 21 to attend the reunion of the Ramos-Braganza,-Agsalud Clan at the MBJ Countryside Resort in Brgy. Baro, Asingan. Shahani said his uncle and Braganza doing the signature EDSA I revolution jump was awkward. He said his cousin was part of the street parliament before the snap election who has links with communists.
He added that Braganza and his group were against the snap election whose spurious result ignited the EDSA Revolution. “Consuelo de bobo (for the) endorsement of Nani, pero magkaiba sila!” he said. In a press conference held at the Sanctuary Building owned by the Shahanis at Brgy. Nancayasan here called by the re-electionist Board Member and her mother Leticia, FVR’s sister, both jointly assailed Braganza and his Liberal Party decision to expel the younger Shahani from the party for allegedly bribing with P100, 000 the party’s mayoral bets so they change allegiance from Braganza to Espino. “How can they suspend me when LP provincial chairman Victor Agbayani (former governor of Pangasinan) would not sign it. Besides, my father and the father of (vice president and LP president) Mar Roxas have been the pillars of the party,” Shahani stressed.