Cojuangco Backs Macanlalay as Vice Guv

For M&M vs. E&E 2016 Capitol Race?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Former Pangasinan Congressman Mark Cojuangco declared his all out support to the mayor here whom he formally picked last August 21 as his candidate for the vice governorship of the gargantuan province.

M&M for 2016: The 29 year-old two-term Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanla-
lay  (4th from right) acknowledges the reiteration of support from former
 Congressman Mark Cojuangco (3rd from left) who was exhilarated that the
young hizzoner finally accepted his offer to be his vice governor tandem in the 
2016 gubernatorial race where he will be throwing his hat. The duo's press
conference was held at the commercial building of the Macanlalays in Brgy.

Bued, Calasiao last August 21.  MORTZ. ORTIGOZA 

 Cojuangco, Pangasinan chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said his tandem with Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay has been 100% final.

“So puwedi na po nating sabihin na 100% na kami po ang magkasama pagdating ng election sa 2016. Siya po ang vice governor”.

Macanlalay formally declared his bid during his 29th birthday celebration last Wednesday held at the residence of his father Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay. The following day he and Cojuangco called a press conference, held at the commercial edifice of the Macanlalays here, attended by this town’s vice mayor and almost all of its village chiefs.

Cojuangco said he prefers Macanlalay than Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim who remains with the NPC after Governor Amado T. Espino resigned lately from the party.

The name of Calimlim cropped out as a timber of the NPC for the vice gubernatorial race after political experts said he (Calimlim) could not be a vice governor for Board Member Amado T. Espino III bid for the governorship as the exiting Governor Espino would be his tandem for the number two post in the almost two million vote rich province comes the 2016 polls.

“It would be M & M versus E & E, “one of the scribes quipped here referring to Mark Cojuangco, a scion of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, and Mark Macanlalay and the young Espino and his silent but politically astute father for the biggest and most expensive provincial derby Pangasinenses would have ever witnessed in their lifetime.

Calimlim has been a two terms vice governor of Espino. He is rumored too to run as nominee in the province based party-list group.

Last July 31, Espino, his brother Bautista Mayor Amadeo T. Espino, and son Bugallon Mayor Jumel Espino submitted their resignation to NPC President Georgidi B. Aggabao who acknowledged receipt of the letter in August 4.

While son and namesake, Provincial Federation of Liga ng mga Barangay President, Ex-Oficio member of the Provincial Board Amado III sent his resignation last August 5 through electronic mail at the NPC’s headquarter in Metro Manila.

Last July 29, Espino, a last term governor, has finally came out from months long of deafening silence by declaring to media men that he endorsed Amado III, as a gubernatorial bet.

Earlier, the governor's allies and members of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (provincial council) Board Members Alfonso Bince Jr., Danilo Uy, Angel Baniqued Jr., Nestor Reyes, and Raul Sison resigned from NPC.

Calimlim, however, did not join in the three batches of resignation.

Cojuangco, a three term congressman of the First District of Pangasinan, said here that Macanlalay is a good combination for his run to 2016 polls.

“If I have more experiences, he is more in touch with the younger generation, and it is not wisdom kung hindi meron kang sense kung ano po ang mga nangyayari sa pagdating sa youth sector. Nanduon kay Mark (Macanlalay) ang malakas sa pagrecognize sa pangangailangan ng kabataan”.

He cited that he is in a winning team with the 31 years old two-term mayor.