Bondoc declares ‘all out support’ to Punsalan’s mayoralty bid
SAN SIMON - Fourth district Repre- sentative Juan Pablo “Rimpy”Bondoc has declared his “all out” support to the mayoralty bid of businessman Abundio Punsalan, Jr. and the whole opposition slate in the coming May 2019 elections.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bondoc convened his family’s long-time leaders and supporters in Barangay San Miguel
here to formally announce his endorsement of Punsalan and his line-up including runningmate Engr. Migs Yambao, re-electionist Councilor Dey Tayag, councilorables incumbent Vice-Mayor Keko Almario, Dading Santos, Ruby Simbulan, Jennet David, Olson Santos, Richneil Bravo, and Marc Macapagal .
“I did not meddle with local politics, particularly in San Simon nor did I field any candidate here because I wanted to see if there will be someone who has the will to stand up and fight for reforms in their hometown. And it was Mayor Jun Punsalan who had the political will, who is brave enough to challenge the administration and push for change of governance,” Bondoc said.
Bondoc also noted of how he was impressed with the unity and compromise exercised by each leader to come up with a “solid line up” that would challenge the 18-year reign of the current administration.
“Imagine Vice-Mayor Keko, he is an incumbent official of the administration. He could have allied with them but he chose to run under Mayor Jun Punsalan’s team because he believes that this is the leadership that is needed by Simonians,” Bondoc said.
He furthered: “Councilor Dey Tayag and Councilor Dading Santos have also declared their dream to run for vice-mayor but decided to give way to Vice-Mayor Migs to reinforce the opposition slate. This is how strong their urge to bring true progress and development in San Simon which have been deprived of true development for almost two decades now.”
Asked what made him decide to support Punsalan despite the unity among local leaders he was promoting, Bondoc said: “I cannot just watch while elected leaders who are supposedly working to uplift the lives of people, are using their power to advance their personal interests.”
Bondoc said that he will even go house-to-house to campaign for Punsalan and the whole opposition slate aside from his formal endorsement to ensure that they will secure the victory in the coming local polls.
“It is now time for a change in leadership. San Simon deserves so much more than this. It has all the potentials for development with the four major thoroughfares (NLEx, MacArthur Highway, Quezon Road, San Miguel-Baliwag Road) on its area, but was overtaken by the municipalities of Masantol, Macabebe, Minalin and Sto. Tomas which are on the other side of NLEx,” he said.
Grateful Punsalan
Meanwhile, Punsalan expressed his gratitude to Bondoc for the endorsement, and support and confidence he aired on his mayoralty bid.
He stressed that the support of Bondoc will be a boost on his crusade to bring true development for his hometown San Simon and his fellow Simonians.
“We have known the Bondocs for decades now for all the projects they implemented in San Simon and the whole fourth district which spurred the development we are experiencing now. And I am very much grateful for the confidence he expressed on me and the whole team,” he said.
“And now that we are backed by one of the most influential and effective leaders in Pampanga, we are hopeful that we will succeed in our crusade to bring change in San Simon and uplift the lives of our people,” Punsalan furthered.