Ex-vice guv stays clear of 5th district politics

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Former congressman and Iloilo vice governor Atty. Rolex Tupas Suplico said he will not dabble in the 5^th district politics due to “family reasons” among other reasons.

“I am definitely not running for Board Member or for Congressman of the 5^th District of Iloilo next year,” Suplico told Daily Guardian.

He cited the plans of his cousins in the Tupas clan to run for the provincial board seats representing their home district.

Suplico’s mother was the elder sister of the late Iloilo governor Niel Tupas Sr.

“I understand that Mrs. Binky Montesclaros Tupas, who is the wife of my first cousin, incumbent Cong. Raul “Boboy” Tupas, will run for Board Member next year. On the other hand, I have also been informed that my first cousin Mrs. Niellete C. Tupas-Balleza, who is popularly known as ‘Tweety’, will also run as Board Member,” Suplico said.

Suplico said he will support his cousins in their political endeavors citing their capabilities and readiness to join public service.

“I have decided that I shall support them both. There are 2 slots available for Board Members per district. I think that they’re both ready and able to represent the District in the Iloilo Provincial Board,” Suplico added, who had also served as Iloilo Provincial Board Member, representing the 5^th District of Iloilo.

Suplico also said that Cong. Raul “Boboy” Tupas is running for reelection in 2022 for his third term as Congressman of the 5^th District. He said that he does not know if former Cong. Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr. will again run for Congressman.

The Tupas brothers ran against each other for congressman in the 2019 elections. In the 2016 polls, Raul defeated Niel Jr.’s wife Yvonne Angeli.

Suplico said he will support the Tupas brothers even if they renew their rivalry in 2022.

“I shall endorse them both, even if they run against each other. They’re both my first cousins.”

With the 5^th district politics out of the question, Suplico said he is now studying his options for 2022, including leaving politics.

“Since I have decided that I shall not run for Board Member or for District Congressman next year, I shall study my options. These options shall include not running at all,” Suplico said.

Suplico said there is life beyond politics, citing his flourishing legal practice and businesses.

“In the event that I shall decide not to run for any elective position, I shall focus on the law practice based in Makati City and my businesses, including my security agency, Great Odysseus Security Agency, Inc. or GOSAI. GOSAI is the exclusive security provider of IKEA Philippines, which is building its world’s largest store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. I have also started the R2S Manpower Services Corp., which provides solar panel cleaners for the solar farms of Jobin Sqm Inc., a subsidiary of the Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) based in Subic Bay Freeport. NAC is the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and one of the largest in the world. I see that my newly started business has a lot of potential. And, like my law practice and my other businesses, R2S Manpower needs my firm guidance,” Suplico added.

Earlier, Suplico said he can also run for vice governor or party-list representative in 2022.

Suplico was former congressman of the 5^th District of Iloilo from 1998-2007 and former Iloilo Vice-Governor from 2007-2010.