‘3 kings’ of Valenzuela City open campaign in style

WESLEY GATCHALIAN

MANILA, Philippines—The “Three Kings of Valenzuela” blasted their opponents as they launched their campaign in style on Sunday night during a six-hour proclamation rally with the senatorial slate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The brothers Wesley, Sherwin and Rexlon Gatchalian are running as party-list representative, congressman and mayor, respectively, each of them vowing to help residents of the city in their own way.

But the siblings, along with other members of their “Tayo Na Valenzuela” local government ticket, also did not back down in responding and criticizing their local rivals.

“I suggested we hold the rally in this place, where we started nine years ago, when we first cried out that we are tired of the stinking Valenzuela, corrupt Valenzuela, and old Valenzuela City,” Rexlon said to the crowd massed in front of the Valenzuela City Hall of Justice.

Rexlon, the third of four siblings of Chinese-Filipino “Plastics King” William Gatchalian, then alluded to fellow Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, who is running for re-election.

SHERWIN GATCHALIAN

“If what I heard was right, this congressman—there are only two of us (here in Valenzuela)—said that the councilors and vice mayor candidates in red (Tayo Na Valenzuela’s chosen campaign color) are just puppets of Mayor Sherwin,” Rexlon said.

“However, I have evidence that one of the councilors in his lineup sent me a letter of intent asking to join us. Another one, meanwhile, went to Sherwin many times, asking to join. So before the other congressman calls us puppets, maybe they should do a loyalty check on their ranks. He might suddenly call his fellow candidates puppets to what is right,” he said.

Sherwin, who is running as congressman for the first district of Valenzuela, said he never saw Gunigundo “during Ondoy, and habagat, when fires hit Tampoy and De Gula.”

“I did not even see his shadow. I don’t think he has given a single biscuit,” he said.

“As congressman, he has funds too. But where have these gone?” Sherwin added, while making a gesture similar to fiddling his pocket to wild cheering from the crowd.

REXLONGATCHALIAN

“Don’t let our Valenzuela fall back to the rut. Let’s continue the change,” said Sherwin, who is on his third term as mayor.

Wesley, running as the party-list representative for Alay-Buhay, which claims to support small businessmen, also pledged to use his funds to support Valenzuelanos.

“Until there are young people who cannot study, people who are suffering, and people who need medical assistance in Valenzuela, I will not leave this city,” he said.

The Tayo Na Valenzuela is a coalition of local politicians from the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Liberal Party.

The Gatchalian brothers are facing the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats ticket led by Gunigundo for second district representative, his wife, Adelma, as mayor, and Councilor Ritche Cuadra, as first district representative.