Estrada chooses Galvan to fight reelectionist Marquez
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

ELECTION FEVER. The Aklan Provincial Capitol, the seat of the provincial government of Aklan. Incumbent governor is Carlito Samson-Marquez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. (BRZabal)

KALIBO, Aklan – Detained former President Joseph Estrada endorsed the candidacy of Dr. Karen Ambito-Galvan for governor of Aklan against reelectionist Gov. Carlito Marquez.
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.
Galvan, a Lyceum of the Philippines graduate, said over DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo yesterday 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 Kusog it Akean. Rebaldo, however, is a close ally of incumbent Cong. Florencio 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), the political party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"My father, Lolong Ambito, is a desperate politician. I am willing to take the challenge to serve my fellow Aklanons," she stressed.
During the 2004 local elections, Miraflores overwhelmingly defeated Lolong Ambito and closest rival Gabrielle Calizo for the lone congressional seat.
Galvan said he 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 Vic Inserto and his father, Lolong Ambito when she was introduced with Estrada.
Dr. Emmett Custodio denied the statements of Galvan that he is interested to run for vice governor under PMP against incumbent lawyer-journalist Ronquillo Tolentino (Lakas-CMD).
"I’m much more willing to seek for election in the provincial board," he said yesterday.
Estrada also endorsed senatorial candidates from the Genuine Opposition – Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, former Senators Loren Legarda and Nikki Coseteng, Cong. Benigno ‘”Noynoy” Aquino III, Cong. Francis Escudero and Sen. Panfilo Lacson during his nine hour visit to Doña Mary.