Red Durano replaces Ace in Fifth District

A meeting just this week between leaders and members of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party of the Durano family ended with Fifth District Rep. Ace Joseph Felix “Ace” Durano deciding not to seek re-election.

It was Ace’s brother, incumbent Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Red” Durano VI, who filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the District yesterday.

Red disclosed it was during a meeting Wednesday when he finalized his decision to run for Congress.

“All the while I was thinking that I will be running for reelection for Danao,” he said.

In a text message to The Freeman, Ace confirmed his decision not to seek for public office and said he will, instead, help the campaign of Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero for president and vice president, respectively.

“Sen Grace and Sen Chiz asked me to help them in their campaign and slate which I accepted,” Ace said.

Poe is an independent candidate while Escudero is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Ace is provincial chairman of NPC but BAKUD has allied with the Liberal Party in the 2013 election.

As of yesterday, Red said BAKUD has not decided who to support in the national level, particularly for president.

“Wala pa. Actually, we are still waiting for all the candidates to file. That’s when the party will decide whom to support for the national positions,” Red said, adding, the party will make an announcement “as the campaign progresses.”

He said they have scrapped Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte from their list when he filed his COC for re-election as mayor last Thursday.

“I think he filed his candidacy for mayor so Mayor Duterte is out of the options,” he said.

Yesterday was the last day for the filing of the COCs.

Locally, however, Red assured that BAKUD’s support is still with LP.

“In the provincial level, of course we are supporting Gov. Junjun and Vice Gov. Agnes,” he said.

Magpale is part of the Durano clan and is a member of the BAKUD party.

Red said it will be his brother, incumbent Danao City ABC President Mix Durano, who will replace him as vice mayor of the city alongside their father, re-electionist Mayor Ramonito “Nito” Durano.

Red filed his COC yesterday with 5th district Provincial Board Members Jude Durano-Sybico and Miguel Magpale who are both seeking for re-election.

Meanwhile, a 76-yearold woman also filed her COC yesterday, hoping to run against Red.

Virginia Wagas Velasco, a registered voter of Compostela town, said she wants to run so that she can stop the “political dynasty” in the Fifth District.

Velasco said the siblings and former mayors of Compostela, Ritchie and Gilbert, are her nephews and her father was also a former mayor of the town. She said she does not have any experience in public office but knows she can serve the public well.