Vicky Ramos: I'm not running for Kalibo mayor
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Businesswoman Vicky Ramos said she has no plan to run for mayor in the capital town of the province, belying reports that she is being groomed by the opposition to challenge Mayor Raymar Rebaldo.

This she stressed over RMN DYKR Kalibo as she made known to the public her intention to run for a much higher post in May 2007 local and national elections.

“I intend to run most likely for governor of Aklan," stressed Ramos of the Aklan Independent Movement (AIM) party.

Ramos, who was defeated by Gov. Carlito Marquez in 2004 elections, visited his home province last December to help supporters in Aklan affected by the Typhoon Seniang through the Godofredo P. Ramos Memorial Foundation.

The statements of Ramos spared Rebaldo’s bid for his last and third term as mayor. Rebaldo will likely clash with former vice mayoral bet Apolonio ‘Apol’ Zaraspe III and former vice mayor William Lachica on May polls.

Lachica, however, is still silent of his plans after he both lost the mayoral contest in 2004 and the electoral protest at the regional trial court here last September 29, 2006 against Rebaldo, a Tibyog Akean member.

Zaraspe has yet to formally launch his bid to challenge Rebaldo, but, in radio interviews, he openly announced that he is willing to serve the people of Kalibo.
He also joined the United Opposition (UNO) - a coalition of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph Estrada, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), members of the Liberal Party belonging to the wing of Sen. Franklin Drilon, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition - as interim provincial chairman.
In the vice mayoral race, three-termer Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Ariel Fernandez, an ally of Rebaldo, is reportedly wanted to run against incumbent Dr. Nilda Tambong.
According to SB Arnaldo Tejada Sr, they might field their eight-man SB slate under the local opposition ticket Kusog it Akean of former Aklan solon Gabrielle Calizo.
So far, Lachica and Tambong are likely candidates to lead the opposition slate on 2007 midterm elections, Tejada said over DYRU Super Radyo Kalibo.