Miraflores named Tibyog Akean bet for Ibajay mayor
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

TIBYOG UNIFIED. The stalwarts of ruling local coalition and united Tibyog Akean led by Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores (third from left, Kampi), Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez (second from left, Lakas-CMD) and Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino (second from right, Lakas-CMD) in a press conference today. With them is the founder of Tibyog Akean and former Aklan solon Allen Salas-Quimpo (third from left)(BRZabal)

IBAJAY, Aklan – The wife of Rep. Florencio 'Joeben' Miraflores is the official candidate for town mayor in the May 14 elections.
The announcement came as the ruling local coalition Tibyog Akean supported the fielding of Lourdes ‘Lulu’ Martin-Miraflores as rival of incumbent mayor Roberto ‘Jun’ Garcia Jr.
Miraflores, provincial chairman of the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPI), said the decision was reached after banker Maria Bettina ‘Mabeth’ Mobo-Garcia filed her candidacy for Aklan governor.
“This is one of the difficult decisions of my political career,” said Miraflores, uncle of reelectionist mayor, in a press conference with the provincial candidates at Tibyog Akean headquarters in the town of Kalibo.
The solon said Tibyog Akean has decided to field his own wife as the party’s bet for mayor after his nephew declared his support for Mabeth Mobo-Garcia, who is running under Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Incumbent Gov. Carlito Marquez is the official gubernatorial candidate of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and reelectionist Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino.
Marquez said he was "satisfied and extremely happy of the decision of Miraflores to put up a mayoral bet in his hometown of Ibajay."
Two weeks ago, incumbent Garcia had convinced his wife of the “Tres Marias” to shelve her political plans not to run for congresswoman in Aklan’s lone district.
He told reporters before his wife filed her candidacy that their family unity ties is affected by the rift and possible division brought by the recent political events.
“I even declared in Ibajay to campaign against my wife if she pursued her plans to seek for elective post against my uncle,” Garcia said.
On March 29 deadline, Garcia filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor under PDP-Laban, instead, after his aunt was officially declared as Tibyog Akean’s bet.