Pineda versus Bondoc in Pampanga
I wrote this line once and I wanted to repeat it again and quoting myself here. ‘The game of politics has always been the struggle of those who are outside looking in and wanting to have one’s place in the sun, and for those who already in fighting to maintain one’s posi t i on.’
This early, the lines are already drawn who would be the ‘combatants’in the gubernatorial race in Pampanga come May next year. We don’t have to wait for October this year when filing of certificates of candidacies (COC) will commence. Undoubtedly one the best governors Pampanga ever had is the current Governor Lilia ‘Nanay Baby’Pineda. She is the ‘Mother Teresa’ of Pampanga. Tens of thousands of Kapampangans, and even none Kapampangans were given medical help and spent the Pineda’s wealth to take care of them. The funds at the capitol are too scarce to meet all the needs of the marginalized. Now comes her son, incumbent Vice Governor Dennis ‘Delta’Pineda who is being egged to succeed his ‘graduating’ mother after finishing three uninterrupted terms.
In the meanwhile, watching keenly on the side is fourth district Congressman Rimpy Bondoc who some weeks ago was photographed together with Bacolor Mayor Jomar Hizon. That photo landed in the front page of SUNSTAR and apparently telling all and sundries that they are ready to do battle with the Pinedas. Many are saying that the 2019 elections in Pampanga will be a battle royale. Really interesting that this early oddsmakers are still studying the numbers who between Pineda and Bondoc getting the edge.
These are givens. The second district is Pineda’s territory. It has six towns, namely Porac, Sta. Rita, Guagua, Sasmuan, Lubao and Florida Blanca. Estimated number of votes, almost three hundred thousand. The fourth district can be credited as Bondoc’s turf and with eight towns namely Macabebe,Masantol, Apalit, San Simon, Sto. Tomas, Minalin, San Luis and Candaba. Estimated number of votes a little over three hundred thousand. In short, between the two would-be bets, it is almost what you can say evensteven. And it can be concluded that the third district will be the battleground. And most likely Pineda will draft Senior Board Member Ferdinand ‘Dinan’Labung as his running mate. Labung is Nino Bonito of the third district. He always polled the biggest number of votes each time. His influence in the third district is undeniable.
The second district is only composed of the town of Magalang and the cities of Mabalacat and Angeles. The latter, being a chartered city is excluded in provincial elections. With Cris Garbo now the city mayor, a known Pineda die hard, it is expected that Pineda will take Mabalacat. Magalang is up for grabs. And Pineda’s obvious advantage is her mother’s popularity and the network of workers his father Rodolfo have. If it can be likened into a cockfighting, and the two warriors are fighting birds, the immediate call who is llamado according to observers will be Bondoc. But once Nanay Baby will enter the cockpit, expect a deluge of mix calls. The young Pineda may tilt the balance. He may become the llamado and Bondoc the dehado.
To my readers, please this is only a possible scenario and not yet the real thing. Between now and October, which is still a good six months away from today, many things can still happen. Be surprised though with the i mponder abl es.