Olongapo's 2010 election will shape the city

Magsaysays take on Gordons in Olongapo

By JONAS REYES - Manila Bulletin

OLONGAPO CITY — The bid of the Magsaysay clan to wrest control of Olongapo City from the hands of the Gordon family has extended to the whole province of Zambales.

After former Zambales Governor Vicente Magsaysay announced his mayoral bid in Olongapo to challenge incumbent Mayor James Gordon, two members of the rival families joined the fray.

Zambales Vice Governor Anne Marie Cunada Gordon and incumbent 1st District of Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros ‘Mitos’ Esperanza Habana Magsaysay are fighting it out for the House seat in the 1st District of Zambales in the 2010 elections.

L-R: Bong Guerrero, Ed Piano, Bugsy Delos Reyes, Nathan Manalo, Jong Cortez, Rodel Cerezo, Anne Gordon, Bong Gordon, Cynthia Cajudo, Ellen Dabu, Gina Perez, Edna Elane, Tet Marzan. Gordon Straight Ticket sa 2010. Bagumbayan Party. 15 Olongapo City Barangay Chairmen joined the slate in their filing of COC to show support to the team.

Vice Gov. Gordon, wife of the incumbent Olongapo mayor, will be running under the Bagumbayan Party and will be leaving her post without any representative from the party to vie for her post as vice governor of Zambales.

Rep. Magsaysay, meanwhile, will run under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD banner. She is a daughter-in-law of former governor Magsaysay.

Incumbent Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso said he will be supporting his Vice Governor Gordon in the congressional race but assured that his friendship with the Magsaysays is unwavering.

He added that former governor Magsaysay would also support Deloso’s daughter Cheryl in the congressional race in the 2nd District of Zambales. Cheryl is running against Magsaysay’s cousin incumbent Rep. Antonio Diaz.

Meanwhile, it was learned that after filing their certificates of candidacy (CoCs), Magsaysay gave his councilors P200,000 each. Magsaysay said it is their tradition that after filing their COCs, candidates should go home, invite all their friends, and party till they drop.

But Magsaysay appears to have an uphill climb in his bid to topple the Gordons from their Olongapo stronghold.

The Gordons’ have a long-standing history of ruling Olongapo City, except in 1971 when Dr. Geronimo Lipumano won over James’ mother, Amelia Gordon.

The Gordons also briefly lost power shortly after the 1986 People Power when Ted Macapagal was appointed OIC mayor of Olongapo by then Interior Secretary Aquilino Pimentel.

Apart from Gordon and Magsaysay, another candidate for Olongapo mayor is Jerome Bacay, an independent candidate. Bacay said he is running for mayor to give the people of Olongapo another choice. “I am running on the issue of anti-corruption, pro-transparency, and good governance. We are the third choice this May.”