Allies no more
There are no permanent which side will remain standing
friends in politics..iust
"il;;. tDE$lslltlff
these. rhe
rf
is seeing five decades of
-
close political relaiions breaking
s.pa,rt.
Tvn lnayeigtt clars -the
F)sc,uderos and the Irces
- hnve parted ways for
preserv'ation of their
dynasties. But at
each other's €xpense,
They will know
From page , district until his success in the
Kristine Lee-Balita is challenging
reeleclionisl Evelina'Nanay Escudero
lo represent the province's first
district.
Escudero is the mother of outgoing
Jen. Francis'Chiz' Escudero, who is
ndw gunning for the gubernatorial
post.
These prove that what decades . Seven other candidates are
had built could not last when
interests a.rld their survival a,re on
the line.
The younger Escudero is completing
ris two six-year terms as a Senator,
Ie used to represent Sorsogon's firsl
after the 13 May midterm
t,'ntopaseo
^-
Allies no more
national elections.
Escudero, once a his rivals.
presidential timber, had also
sought the vice presidency in
2016 but lost.
The Escudero family,
however, remains a force in
Sorsogon. IIe is running under
the banner of th€ Nationalist People's
Coalition (NPC).
challenging Chiz. They are Bladi
Frivaldo of the Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino (PDP), Lady Gabaida, Pads
Galindos, Nestor Gotis, R€dentor
Guyala, Mike Lopez and Mandy Lucila.
Having served three terms as first
district oongressman of Sorsogon
IIiIANIIA, PHII.IPPINES I MONDAY 8 APRIL 2OI9
before winning a Senate seat in 2007, womenls welfare and the poor. ties that sta ed during the Marcos
Escudero holds a massive edge over era in 1971.
lhe Province of Sorsogon is seeing The battle lines in Sorsogon are
His celebrity wife, Heart frve decades of close political evident in other local positions - with
Evangelista, is also a plus to relations brealdng apart. the Escuderos and Lees supporting
his campaigl. She can draw opposing candidates.
crowds and is a constant She is currently one of the deputy ' In Sorsogon's second congressionall
magnet to people. speakers in the House. district, Rodrigueza will be facing offl
Chiz will just have to focus Lee-Balita is the elder sister of, with Ditas Ramos, sister of outgoing
on ensuring the reolection incumbent goyernor Robert "Bobet" Rep. Ding Ramos, vho is running
of his .mother. Lee-Rodrigueza of PDP and'is President under Escudero's NPC.
Nanay Escudero's experience in Rodrigo Duterte's political ally in the For the mayoral race in Sorsogon
local politics also gives her an upper province. City, incumbent mayor Sally Lee will
hand against the young Lee-Balita. With the backing of the Lee clan, go up against incumbent vice'governor
As member of the House of Lee-Balita is a formidable oiponent to Ester Hamor, a known ally of the
Representatives, Nanay was credited Nanay Escudero. Escuderos.
for authoring 3lI and co-sponsoring The Escudero-Lee clash is the These prove that what decades built
83 other measures - mostly pushing biggest political collision in Sorsogon's could not last when interests and their
suppolt for agriculture, , edu cation, history. following 48 years of political suwival are on the line. i
i,l
" +K,all.f FAeEt,
)