By Mortz C. Ortigoza
BOLINAO, Pangasinan - Opponents of former Congressman Art Celeste continue to look for answers how to beat him and his kin in this vote rich bailiwick town that saw failed bids of rivals in the past congressional races.
This town, the birthplace of the political family Celestes, has 83,979 population (2020 PSA) and 42, 232 registered voters (April 2021 Comelec).
In case the plan of former Congressman and Corazon Aquino Administration Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos materializes, the elusive keys of how to beat Art Celeste will preoccupy his mind.
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MARQUEE Congressional candidates Alaminos City former Mayor Art Celeste (left) and former Malacanang Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos.
“One of the challenges of Manong Oca Orbos is how to solve the Bolinao Vote Factor. These past 21 years, Celeste brothers have maintained a tight gripped on the congressional seat of the First District of Pangasinan. Thanks to their solid votes in Bolinao. Other congressional contenders like (Lawyer) Vic Millora, (GMA-7 TV Reporter) Maki Pulido, and (former General Manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) Tim Orbos were able to win in many smaller towns but when the Bolinao votes were counted, their initial lead were completely wiped out,” a political contributor Deep Throat -2 wrote to this writer.
The District is composed the City of Alaminos and the municipalities of Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini and Sual.
The source said instead of 2019 congressional candidate Orbos – who was beaten in a tight race by Rep. Arnold Celeste – challenging Art in the May 9, 2022 election, his older brother Oscar will probably duke- out with the former.
”In preparation for his return in local politics, Manong Oca Orbos is selling his properties in Bani, Pangasinan to fund his campaign. According to a reliable source, he will run as an independent candidate but he welcomes help from other parties who believes that he is more qualified and well equipped than Art Celeste - his rival for the position,” the source in conditioned of anonymity told Northern Watch Newspaper.
Tim Orbos, added by Deep Throat-2, defected lately from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and joined the Aksyon Demokratiko of Manila City Mayor and Presidential aspirant Isko Moreno.
His discontentment in the old party ensued because the officials there did not have the enthusiasm to disqualify Congressman Arnold Celeste on the charges at the Commission on Election that he is a citizen of the United States.
The ineligibility of Celeste in the 2019 race would see Orbos as shoo-in on that post.
The former beat the latter with a 7,488 lead votes where Celeste and Orbos chalked up 101, 234 and 93, 786 votes, respectively.
Arnold next year will be challenging the seat of Mayor Gualberto R. Sison in the one horse's town Agno, Pangasinan.
In the acrimonious 2019 election, it saw the towns of Sual, Mabini, Dasol, and Agno went to the allied mayors of Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, III and his father and namesake the former governor and congressman of the province.
“His younger brother Tim is now busy as national convenor for Kami Muna Movement which is supporting Isko Moreno for President. "Kumalas si Tim sa PDP-Laban dahil hindi inasikaso ng secretary general ang kasong inhihain niya tungkol sa pagiging US citizen ni Cong Arnold Celeste at sa paniniwala na mas magaling si Isko kaysa ibang kandidato gustong tumakbo sa pagka presidente," Deep Throat -2 cited
Former Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste, the eldest of the Celeste brothers, is gung-ho to unseat Philippines fourth richest town Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay in the next year’s electoral derby.
The political kibitzer - who kept sending informations to this writer what transpired at the camps of the Espinos and Orbos - said the opponents of the Celestes should work smarter and harder to defeat Art in the May 9, 2022 poll.
“They need to get at least 40% of the Bolinao votes to win. Therefore he must work smarter and harder in reducing the Celeste votes in that town”.
In case the congressional showdown between Art Celeste and Oscar Orbos materialized after the filing of the certificate of candidacy at the provincial’s Comelec office at Dagupan City in October 1 to 8 this year, political spectators are curious to see how the voters treat the moneyed and more popular Celeste and the once Renaissance Man and “Whiz Kid” Oscar Orbos – as cited by marquee Op-Ed Writers Maximo V. Soliven and Teddy Benigno - when they tangle with each other in the game of ingratiating of votes of the electorates in the rustic western Pangasinan district.
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MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA
I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.
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