ITOGON, Benguet: One of the aspirants for the province's congressional post criticized the alleged orchestrated efforts by some quarters to come up with a unified candidate, who will be pitted against Benguet legislative caretaker and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support party-list Rep. Eric Yap in the May 2022 elections. Mayor Victorio Palangdan said he was invited by the purported convenors of an alliance in Benguet to attend the scheduled selection of the proposed unified candidate for the lone congressional post, which was held in the capital town of La Trinidad on October 2, Saturday. However, Palangdan disclosed he simply presented himself to the gathered sectoral representatives from the different parts of the province, but did not allow himself to be subjected to the process because he knew all along that the said process was orchestrated and designed to suit the interest of those who are behind the 'alliance.' Palangdan pointed out that the 38 sectoral representatives who were gathered for the said selection process do not represent the true sentiment of the people of Benguet, and that they were simply convened to ensure the will of those who are behind the supposed alliance will be achieved as reflected on the outcome of the activity. According to him, he will not respect the outcome of the supposed convention, and he will pursue his aspiration to run for the province's lone congressional post as he is prepared for the expected tossup between him and Yap. Palangdan is a retired prosecutor, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative and a three-term mayor of this mineral-rich town. He asserted he will still pursue his plan to run for representative under his Independent Benguet Party.
