Estrada Chooses Galvan For Governor of Aklan

ELECTION FEVER. The Aklan Provincial Capitol, the seat of the provincial government of Aklan. (photo by BRZabal)

Detained former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada endorsed the candidacy of Dr. Karen Ambito-Galvan for governor of Aklan. Reelectionist Gov. Carlito S. Marquez looms a formidable foe her, Karen being a neophyte in politics.
The endorsement came during the visit of Estrada to his ailing 101-year-old mother, Doña Mary Ejercito at her house in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila on Sunday, February 18.
Galvan, a Lyceum of the Philippines graduate, said that Estrada also supports the congressional bid of former Manila City Treasurer Anthony Acevedo under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Acevedo is the uncle of Kalibo Mayor Raymar Acevedo-Rebaldo of Tibyog it Akean. And Rebaldo, is a close ally of incumbent Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores.
Marquez is being endorsed by the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) while Miraflores is the district and provincial chairman of Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi).
"My father, Lolong Ambito, is a desperate politician. I am willing to take the challenge to serve my fellow Aklanons," she confided.
During the 2004 local elections, Miraflores overwhelmingly defeated Lolong Ambito and his closest rival, Gabrielle V. Calizo for the lone Aklan congressional seat in the 2004 elections.
Galvan said, she met Estrada after the party’s meeting in Club Filipino with Lito Banayo and Horacio Morales, former Cabinet secretaries of Estrada. She was with PMP Aklan stalwart former Malinao Mayor Vic Inserto and his father, Lolong Ambito when she was introduced with Estrada.
On the other hand, Dr. Emmett Custodio denied he is the running mate of Galvan, that he is not interested to run for vice governor. The incumbent Vice Governor is lawyer-journalist Ronquillo Tolentino of Tibyog Akean.
"I’m much more willing to seek for election in the provincial board," Custodio said. (By Boy Ryan B. Zabal) /MP