Gordons launching bid for old glory

OLONGAPO CITY—Their dominance in the local political arena once faded away but the Gordons intend to regain the political family’s lost glory in next year’s elections.

Former Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. said the political clan will hold a family meeting to decide which of their relatives would be fielded for key elective posts next year.

Admitting that their rifts during the 2013 elections had proved costly to the clan, the Gordons said they are “in the process of reuniting.”

“In a few days, we will be choosing our candidate. It can be Dick (former Sen. Richard Gordon) or me or any member of the Gordon family,” Bong told a news conference here on Wednesday.

Richard, who oversees the Philippine Red Cross, is Bong’s older brother. He was senator from 2004 to 2010 and ran for President in 2010 but lost. He ran and lost for a Senate seat in 2013.

The former senator also served as Olongapo City mayor from 1980 to 1986. He was mayor again from 1988 to 1993.

Positions

Although Bong did not specify the local post they are targeting, sources close to the Gordons said that Bong himself may be fielded in the Olongapo mayoral race.

Bong served as mayor from 2004 to 2013. In 2013, he ran as representative of Zambales’ first district but lost to former Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun.

Richard’s son, Brian, was defeated in the vice mayoral race while nephew Bugsy de los Reyes, who ran for mayor against his aunt Anne Marie Gordon, also lost.

“We’ve learned our lessons. There were disagreements in terms of principles or ideals but we have to keep on reaching for the stars,” Bong said.

Whoever the Gordons field as Olongapo mayoral candidate would be slugging it out with incumbent Mayor Rolen Paulino, who is seeking re-election.

Paulino defeated Bong’s wife, Anne Marie, in 2013, clipping the Gordons’ reins which held this city for decades.

Gordon legacy

The Gordons’ political influence over Olongapo began in the 1960s when the family patriarch, James Sr., became the first mayor of the chartered city of Olongapo in 1966. His wife Amelia served as mayor from 1968 to 1972.

In Zambales, a member of another political clan that used to reign over the province will try to put the family back on the political scene.

Angel Magsaysay-Cheng, a businesswoman and daughter of former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, will run as vice governor against incumbent Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II. She will team up with former Gov. Amor Deloso, who will challenge incumbent Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who is seeking his third term.

The Magsaysays of Zambales come from the same political family of the late President Ramon Magsaysay. They lost their grip on power in 2013 when all members of the clan were defeated in national and political races.

Former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., son of the late President, and former Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, daughter-in-law of the former governor, failed to win Senate seats.

Mitos’ sons, Jobo and Vic-Vic (Vicente II) Magsaysay, also failed in their bid to be elected in 2013. Jobo lost in Zambales’ first district congressional race while Vic-vic did not win the Olongapo vice mayoral elections.

Alliance

The Magsaysays and the Delosos forged an alliance recently in time for the 2016 elections. The alliance will challenge the candidates of the Sulong Zambales party led by Ebdane.

In 2010, a member of the Magsaysay family withdrew her gubernatorial bid to back Ebdane, former public works secretary and Philippine National Police chief during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

At that time, Ebdane ran and won against Deloso, who was then seeking reelection.

Ebdane’s son, Jun Omar, and Deloso’s daughter, Cheryl, will run against each other in Zambales’ second district congressional race.