‘No turning back’ – Aurora vice gov says of Capitol run

BALER, Aurora, August 30, 2012–The man largely considered by political experts as the biggest threat to the decades-old reign of the Angaras at the Capitol declared yesterday he is not withdrawing from the gubernatorial race next year to give way to the Capitol bid of outgoing Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras said his decision to run for governor is final amid backdoor negotiations for him to just seek reelection to accommodate Angara, a little over a month before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacies of aspirants to local and national posts.

“There’s no turning back,” Noveras said, adding if he loses, it will be his “fitting graceful exit” from politics.

Noveras said he appreciates efforts by the Angara camp for him to forego his gubernatorial bid but said he has “crossed the Rubicon,” meaning, he has made a final decision to seek only the governorship.

“I have made my decision, it is final and I hope they would understand me,” he said.

Earlier, emissaries from the Liberal Party of which Noveras is provincial chairman, tried to persuade the vice governor to abandon his Capitol bid. Among them were Presidential Legislative Liason Office chief Manuel Mamba and Sen. Franklin Drilon, a close friend of Senator Angara.

Noveras said he has the highest respect for Senator Angara, and acknowledged he is in for an uphill fight. “If it’s Senator Angara I am up against, then I have a reason to lose,” he said.

However, he said he could no longer back out of the race because he is “committed” to run for governor. “If I back out, people would think I was paid or I received some favors,” said Noveras who still has a term left as vice governor.

Negotiations for Noveras to give way to Senator Angara have reportedly been going on since last February when President Aquino visited the province on the occasion of its 33^rd anniversary. Shortly after, Mr. Aquino announced that Angara’s son, Rep. Juan Edgardo, would be running for senator under the LP.    

President Aquino and the Angaras – this province’s political kingpins - are from different parties. The clan belongs to the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. But they became close due to the impeachment trial that led to the eventual ouster of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senator Angara and Congressman Angara played key roles in the impeachment, with the former acting as one of the senator-judges and the latter as one of the spokespersons of the House prosecution panel.

Sources said Mamba even offered Noveras a position as Regional Trial Court judge if he wants.

Reports said Senator Angara and Noveras met in the former’s residential compound in Barangay Reserva sometime in late June during the observance of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day. But nothing came out of the talks. 

The elder Angara, a veteran lawmaker and one of the senior statesman in the Senate, earlier denied he is eyeing the Capitol but reportedly reconsidered after his brother, outgoing Baler Mayor Arthur Angara, would “lose” to Noveras.

         

        Noveras announced his intention to run for governor in July last year, two months after reports came out that the Angaras were planning to field him as their standard-bearer in tandem with Rommel Angara, the senator’s nephew Rommel, whom he defeated in the 2007 polls.

When Noveras learned of the plan, he looked excited, saying he would gladly accept it when offered. But negotiations fell through after the Angaras’ political leaders reportedly rejected the “Dream Team” tandem.      

          

         The senator’s Capitol bid has been the subject of much speculation, particularly due to his “increasing visibility” in the province. Since last year, he has been going around the province, meeting ward leaders of the Angaras, particularly local chief executives.  (Manny Galvez)