‘BLANK SLATE’: Defensor ‘open’ to coalition with Biron, Garin in 2022 polls

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Nothing is set in stone for the 2022 elections, according to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., thus he is not closing his doors to alliances with two other political clans in the province.

In his weekly press conference on Friday, Defensor said that there are no updates from their party, Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN), where he is the provincial chairperson.

PDP-LABAN is currently the ruling majority in national and local posts, with President Rodrigo Duterte serving as its standard bearer, and Senator Manny Pacquiao as its national president.

The current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lord Allan Jay Velasco of Marinduque, is also from this political party.

Defensor hinted that he would be running for re-election in the May 9, 2022 elections.

“I’m one of the many in positions and wanting to run, who are waiting for news to come down from the national level of the party to the local. We’re also waiting for communication or instruction from our party to us on what would happen,” said Defensor.

As to reports that two Iloilo lawmakers have transferred their voter’s registration within their respective districts, the governor only said that he “had respect for them”.

Former representative Richard Garin (1st district) is said to have transferred his registration from his hometown in Guimbal to San Joaquin, where his mother Ninfa Serag-Garin currently serves as mayor.

Daily Guardian has confirmed that Iloilo 4^th district Rep. Braeden John Biron moved from his family’s bailiwick in Barotac Nuevo to the neighboring town of Dumangas.

The Biron and Garin families were allies in the 2019 elections under the banner of Nacionalista Party.

Rep. Biron’s father and predecessor, former representative Ferjenel Biron, was Defensor’s rival for governorship in the 2019 elections.

Members of the Biron, Garin, and Defensor families in Iloilo who are currently serving in national and local posts are all aligned with Duterte-backed majorities.

“I really don’t know [their reasons]. They have a purpose for doing that, they have their own reasons, and whatever they are, I respect them. For me, that’s nothing. In so far as I am concerned, I do not have any reach there,” Defensor said.

When asked whether he would reach out to the two families for possible alliances, the governor said there were no plans as of now, but he will not close himself from such possibility.

He added that he would be approaching this election with a “blank slate”, reiterating that he will have to wait for the move of PDP-LABAN.

“There are no plans, but coalitions, it’s really a possibility which we can anticipate. This upcoming election is a new slate for me. I will start with a blank sheet of paper in this election. Coalitions and alliances will come after that. Let’s see,” Defensor added.

Defensor started as a Board Member for the 3rd district in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from 2007 to 2010 under Lakas-CMD, then as district representative for the same district in the 15th and 16th Congresses under the Liberal Party, and in the 17th Congress under PDP-LABAN.