This was the reason given by Caloocan Vice Mayor Edgar “Egay” Erice who on Friday trooped to the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila to file his certificate of candidacy despite an earlier declaration that he would not be running for any post next year.
Erice, who will be seeking a seat in Congress under the Liberal Party (LP) coalition, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he changed his mind after the party and President Benigno Aquino III asked him to run for representative of the city’s second district.
Earlier, he said he would not be running. He did not give a reason although sources said it was in protest of the party’s decision to pick Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri, son of his political nemesis Mayor Enrico Echiverri, as its candidate for Caloocan mayor instead of him.
His move, however, will put him in the same slate as the younger Echiverri and his father who is running for congressman in the first district.
“I’m a loyal party man. I’m not running for myself but for the party to be able to implement the President’s reform agenda. If the party thinks I am suitable for this, then I will follow,” Erice said.
He admitted, however, that he is still disappointed over the party’s decision to back RJ for mayor.