A POTENTIAL showdown looms Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and his erstwhile protégé, Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib.
Although Jubahib has yet to file his certificate of candidacy, Alvarez has hinted to this reporter that he might run for the gubernatorial post of Davao Del Norte.
Alvarez escorted his live-in partner Jennifer Maliwanag who filed her candidacy as councilor of Tagum City on Friday morning.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Allan Rellon and former Vice Mayor lawyer Eva Lorraine Estabillo also filed their COCs as running mates for the mayoralty of Tagum. They will be running under Alvarez’s Reporma party.
Alvarez who is already in his third and last term as congressman said he was not yet saying goodbye to politics.
“I want to clarify, I did not say that I am not running anymore. Although I cannot run as congressman because it’s already my last term, I still have other options and I still have until Oct. 8 to file (for) whatever positions. Right now, I am here to show my support to the candidacies of Jen (Maliwanag) and vice Mayor Allan Rellon and his running mate Atty. ling ling Estabillo. I haven’t decided yet what positions to file. There is no impossible in politics,” Alvarez said in an interview with Manila Standard.
Alvarez added that Reporma Party and PDP Laban has a standing agreement whereby the latter will support Reporma’s candidates and vice versa.
“We have an agreement that whoever PDP endorses we will support and vice versa, so right now PDP has endorsed the candidacy of Cesar Cuntapay for congressman of First District. Cuntapay will be the one to fill in the position that I will be vacating so he will be our candidate. For governor, we don’t have a candidate yet, but I can fill that up. I can support myself as governor of Davao Del Norte. Who knows?,” he said.
It is a common knowledge that Jubahib was a former staff of Alvarez when the latter made him run as governor in 2019.
Alvarez’s slate which included Jubahib and New Corella Mayor Jordan Federiso won by a landslide in 2019.
Jubahib is seeking a reelection in 2025.
Alvarez has a reputation for being a kingmaker in local politics.
“Whatever positions I will decide, I think I can effectively serve the people of Del Norte. My track record will speak for myself, I will just continue what I gave started and that is to serve effectively the people of Davao Del Norte,” he said
