So, it’s Nanay vs. Vilma. The battle royal looming in Pampanga’s capital for the 2025 elections has come to the war of the lords, so to speak.
Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda ended April as a newly registered voter of Barangay Dolores in the City of San Fernando on Tuesday morning at the Comelec registration center in SM Downtown. She was accompanied by her son, her tandem, Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
The queens – the matriarchs of their own family – Nanay and incumbent Mayor Vilma Caluag, might battle it out for the local chief executive of San Fernando in the upcoming 2025 elections.
The lords – the patriarchs of their own family – Bong and Vilma’s husband, Melchor, are no strangers. Melchor used to work for Bong in the jueteng world. They are also businessmen – a game of gamble, where the risks are just as high as the stakes.
Nanay’s daughter, Mylyn, transferred her voter registration on April 16 together with her father, Bong, a political kingpin in the landlocked province. A day prior to that, Mylyn resigned from her position as the 2nd District provincial board member. That position is still unoccupied.
The Pinedas seem to have a steady grasp of their hometown in Lubao, leaving it with their other daughter, incumbent Mayor Esmie.
So, what political ploy do they have in mind after all this time? Why transfer their game to San Fernando? The Pineda family neither confirmed nor denied their political plans.
San Fernando is a thriving first-class component city with 35 barangays and five shopping malls: three SM malls, Robinsons Starmills, and Vista Mall.
Several agricultural processing and manufacturing companies, as well as government centers. The beacon of hand-made Kapampangan lanterns.
Political observers are convinced that while Nanay may now consider the mayoral post, her daughter Mylyn might be running for the congressional seat.
However, she may also be eyeing for the vice governor position in preparation for the gubernatorial post by the time his brother, Delta, reaches his full term and exits in 2028.
Broadcast media practitioner and CLTV36 executive Sonia Soto also announced her intention to run for the congressional seat in the 2nd District during a media forum for World Press Freedom Day, by the way.
So, when Vilma decides to run for a second term, and when the Gonzalezes or some other name enters the 2025 political picture, then we would know how the lords will battle it out. The filing of candidacy will begin in October. Now, there goes the picture. Coming soon.