Maglanque vows to win return bout vs. Bondoc

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- Former Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary Rene Maglanque is bent on waging a return bout for Pampanga’s Fourth District congress seat, this time with a vow of winning against incumbent Rep. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum.
In a press conference held last week, Maglanque said he is “now ready to dislodge the incumbent Congresswoman in my district” after losing against Bondoc in the congressional contests of 2004 and 2007.
Maglanque, an engineer and realty contractor, said he has learned in defeat and is now more prepared to face Bondoc as he is optimistic to be the lone congressional aspirant from the town of Candaba.
In 2004, Maglanque said, he lost because the votes from Candaba were divided between him and retired General Ramsey Ocampo. In the following election of 2007, a multi-pronged fight in the congressional race was equally unkind to the former cabinet official.
Maglanque, who takes pride in branding himself a poor boy with big dreams, has also jumped from the administration party to join the Liberal Party.
On October 28, he was among those sworn into the LP fold by presidential wannabe Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Maglanque said he thinks that the district, especially its public hospitals would have been far better had these been brought to the attention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Maglanque said if given the chance in 2010, he would prioritize the provision of health care benefits particularly to the indigents through the improvement of district hospitals.
He is also planning for the district to take advantage of the North Luzon Expressway by establishing a vegetable drop point in San Simon town before farm produce will be transported to Metro Manila or other parts of the country from North Luzon.
(By Albert B. Lacanlale)