Another Singson running in Ilocos Sur special polls

VIGAN CITY—A son of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson has been fielded by the local party, Bileg, to run for the first congressional district post that was left vacant after the resignation of Singson’s other son, Ronald, who was convicted of drug trafficking in Hong Kong.

Vigan City Vice Mayor Ryan Singson, Ronald’s younger brother, would face either former Board Member Efren Rafanan or lawyer Beltran Baterina in the May 28 special elections. Rafanan lost to the elder Singson in the gubernatorial race last year, while Baterina lost to Ronald in the congressional contest.

“I was really surprised when I was selected [by the party to run for representative] but I am very grateful for it,” Ryan, 30, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Top Bileg leaders and mayors allied with Governor Singson held a caucus on Thursday night and chose Ryan among seven aspirants to run for the vacant post.

Rafanan said the opposition in Ilocos Sur is ready to offer an alternative to the Singsons, saying his group would give them a good fight.

“Our camp will be ready. The people [of Ilocos Sur] continue to clamor for [change],” Rafanan said.

Governor Singson and Rafanan used to be political allies but they parted ways when they faced each other in the gubernatorial race in 2001. Singson won that race.

Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor, said the Commission on Elections is prepared for the special elections.

He said election officers in the 10 towns and Vigan City that comprise Ilocos Sur’s first congressional district have started preparing all paraphernalia for the manual elections. <strong><em>Leoncio Balbin Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon</em></strong>