Cojuangco to Field Bet for Congress in the 2nd District

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

DAGUPAN CITY – Unless incumbent Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil will support his gubernatorial bid, the Nationalist People’s Coalition will field an aspirant for Congress in the 2nd District come December this year, according to Mark Cojuangco.

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“Definitely, hindi naman puwede na walang tatayo sa isang partido sa 2nd District.That is a choice that is forced on us,” he stressed.
He said that aside from the six members of Congress in the mammoth province of Pangasinan it is only Bataoil that has not publicly pledged his support for his intention to run for the highest office in the almost two million vote rich province.
When asked why Bataoil still stay with the NPC despite the absence of his declaration, Cojuangco said probably the solon has something up in his mind.
“Baka may iniisip pa sigurong iba so  abangan".

Rep. Pol Bataoil: No time to play
politics this early.

Cojuangco said Pangasinenses can wait till December this year whether the monolith party will back-up former 2nd District Congressman and former Pangasinan Governor Victor Agbayani against Bataoil if the latter would not declare his support for him.
“Abangan (just wait),” he emphatically told the jam packed room in Star Plaza Hotel here where he called last September 10 a press conference.
Bataoil in a text message to this paper said he asked for understanding why until now he remains mum on his position in the gubernatorial bid of Cojuangco.
“I beg for understanding by all concerned for not responding to queries as to which side I am with. Let it be known that I don’t want to play politics this early. I am focused in my district and in Congress where I am preoccupied with a lot of duties, responsibilities, and activities, “he stressed.
He cited his time is not even enough to perform the mandate entrusted to him by his constituents.
 Meanwhile, Cojuangco, a former three term congressman of the province’s 5th District,  said it would be farfetched that come the campaign period for the 2016 election he would be running for governor while his vice gubernatorial ticket would be Board Member Amado Espino III – Provincial Federation of Liga ng mga Barangay's President.

“Hindi po mangyayari iyan! I have my full commitment “.
He said he has an agreement with Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay as tandem for their shot for the top two positions in the province.
“Hindi po kami nagbabago sa aming commitment sa isat-isa”.
When the duo declared in August 21 in Calasiao, Pangasinan their official tandem,  Cojuangco said their ticket was 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”