By: Tara Yap

THE GARIN political clan of Iloilo’s 1^st District awaits the formal announcement of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) on who will become the party’s standard bearer in Iloilo province for the May 2013 midterm elections.

According to Vice Gov. Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr., the clan’s final political plans have to wait on who between incumbent Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. and former governor Niel Tupas Sr. will become LP’s official candidate.

The vice governor also noted that the clan also wants to know if Iloilo 4^th District Rep. Ferjenel “Ferj” Biron is the official gubernatorial candidate of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the political alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

Regardless of personalities involved, the political clan headed by the vice governor’s father, former Iloilo 1^st District Rep. Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr., knows that there are only two formidable political parties in the country—LP and UNA.

The vice governor emphasized that what is important is that whoever the clan chooses will be beneficial to the constituents of the towns of Guimbal, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

Defensor alliance?

But the younger Garin, who ran as the vice gubernatorial candidate of Defensor under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD ticket during the May 2010 elections, showed ambivalence.

He said it remains to be seen if he will still be the governor’s running mate.

He said that if Defensor will seek re-election and he will also seek re-election as vice governor, they will most likely become a tandem again and help each other.

The vice governor said the people of Iloilo still needs his services.

Premature plans

Meanwhile, the Garins have yet to announce who in the family will actually run for various posts.

Iloilo 1^st District Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin, the vice governor’s wife, is in her third and final term.

San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Serag Garin, the vice governor’s mother, is also in her third and final term.

The vice governor disclosed that his father Oscar may run as congressman again.

The vice governor’s sister Christine is mayor of Guimbal town and sister Sharon is party-list representative of AAMBIS-OWA.