BINALONAN, Pangasinan: Pangasinan Fifth District Rep. Ramon “Guwapo” Guico 3rd has confirmed his decision to run for governor against incumbent Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino 3rd in the local and national elections on May 9, 2022.

Guico, who ran under the banner of the Lakas-CMD party in the May 13, 2019 polls, is the son of Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. while Espino is the son of Amado Espino Jr., who also served as governor and congressman in the Fifth District of the province.

Guwapo defeated the older Espino in the 2019 elections, partly because he allegedly cut the “power supply” of the Espino family.

“I couldn’t disown or refuse the support and offer of my partymates and my constituents in convincing me to run for governor, so I decided to accept it,” he said in an interview with The Manila Times.

Guwapo, 46, served as mayor for nine years and was one-term vice mayor of Binalonan town.

Prof. Salvador Singson-de Guzman, president of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Crime, Illegal Drugs and Gambling Inc., a nationwide organization, told The Times that Guwapo has a big chance of winning the gubernatorial race, citing the support of big politicians and various political party leaders in Pangasinan.

De Guzman said Guwapo is qualified to be the next governor of the province because of his experience in local governance.

Last year, Guwapo refused to reveal his candidacy because at the time he was still friends with Pogi.

His wife, Maan Tuazon-Guico, is now visiting the towns of the Fifth District because she will run for congresswoman to succeed him.

First District Rep. Arnold Celeste, Third District Rep. Rosemarie Arenas and Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella 3rd are believed to be supporting Guwapo’s candidacy and Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, Second District Rep. Jumel Anthony Espino (Pogi’s brother) and Sixth District Rep. Tyrone Agabas, that of the incumbent governor.

De Guzman said among the politicians backing Guwapo’s candidacy are two former First District representatives — brothers Arthur and Boying Celeste — who also served as mayors of Bolinao and Alaminos City, respectively.

Arthur ran for governor against Pogi in the 2019 polls but lost.

It was learned that local leaders of the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Lakas-CMD, Liberal Party and other political parties in Pangasinan have already issued their statements and decided to rally behind Guwapo.

Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also issued her full support for Guwapo’s bid and said she will convince President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of the ruling PDP-Laban, to anoint him as the official administration candidate.

The Celeste brothers, members of the NPC, control the majority mayors in the First District namely, Infanta Mayor Marvin Martinez, Burgos Mayor Ronald

Ngayawan, Agno Mayor Gualberto Sison, Bani Mayor Gwen Yamamoto, Anda Mayor Joganie Rarang, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste and Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste.

The First District has one city and nine municipalities where the mayors of the towns of Sual, Mabini and Dasol are supporters of Pogi.

In the Second District — with eight municipalities — the incumbent governor will be backed by a majority of the mayors, considering that his brother, Jumel Anthony Espino, is the incumbent congressman.

Pogi will be supported by his mother, Bugallon Mayor Prescila Espino, Labrador Mayor Dominador Arenas, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, Binmaley Mayor Sammy Rosario and Basista Mayor Edwin Resuello.

The mayors of Mangatarem, Urbiztondo and Aguilar will supposedly support Guwapo.

Former Fifth District representative Mark Cojuangco will supposedly also back Guico because he is running for congressman against Jumel Espino in the Second District.

Cojuangco ran for governor in the 2016 elections but was also defeated by the incumbent governor.

His wife Kimi lost, too, to the older Espino in the Fifth District race in the 2016 polls.

Third District incumbent Rep. Rosemarie Arenas and Bayambang Mayor Cezar Quiambao, Sta. Barbara Mayor Joel delos Santos and Mapandan Mayor Anthony Penuliar will supposedly support Guwapo while Mayor Julier Resuello of San Carlos City, Calasiao Mayor Eric Bauzon and Malasiqui Mayor Noel Geslani will supposedly back Espino.

The family of Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia and Mayor Louie Agbayani of San Fabian and San Jacinto Mayor Leo de Vera will supposedly back Espino while Mayor Marilyn Lambino of Mangaldan and Mayor Kim Amador of Manaoag will supposedly support Guico.

In the Fifth District where Guwapo is the incumbent congressman, he will supposedly be supported by Mayor Danilo Uy of Sison, Mayor Emma Chan of Pozurrubio, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. (his father) and Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno while Guwapo will supposedly be backed by Mayor Nato Abrenica of Villasis, Mayor Dick Villar of Sto. Tomas, Mayor Amadeo Espino of Basista and Mayor Tomas Callejo of Alcala.

In the Sixth District, Rep. Tyrone Agabas and San Manuel Mayor Alain Jerico Perez, Asingan Mayor Tom Lopez, Balungao Mayor Gorio Peralta, Umingan Mayor Lucio Cruz, Sta. Maria Mayor Julius Ramos, Natividad Mayor Rosing Rafael and San Quintin Mayor Clark Tiu will supposedly support Pogi while the mayors of Rosales, Tayug and San Nicolas will supposedly back Guwapo.