Ortega vs Ortega in La Union province for 2016 polls

Some members of La Union's Ortega clan will will be gunning for the same posts in the May elections, which rivals perceive as an opportunity to end their political dominance in the province, said Jun Veneracion in a report on GMA News 7's "24 Oras" on Wednesday.

 

"Just like in any dynasty or regime, meron din hangganan di ba? And I think, this is the time," said Tomas "Butch" Dumpit, a candidate for governor. His family has been challenging the Ortegas for more than a decade. 

 

The Ortegas have been in power for more than a century, starting with the appointment by the Americans of Joaquin Ortega as the province's first Filipino civil governor in 1901.

 

Dumpit added that the Ortegas are "self destructing, so this is an opportunity for us to come in."

 

The potential successors of incumbent Governor Manuel Ortega are his brother Mario, his son Francisco "Pacoy" Emmanuel Ortega III and Dumpit.

 

Alfredo Pablo Ortega is challenging his uncle Jose Maria “Pepe” Ortega for the vice mayoral post in San Fernando City.

 

Incumbent San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega, who hopes to become the province's first district congressman, faces his nephew Emmanuel Victor “Mannix” Ortega and Justo Orros III, a relative of the Ortegas.

 

Alfredo, Pacoy and Mannix are the children of Governor Ortega, who is retiring from politics after his third and last term, according to reports. 

 

Gubernatorial bet Mario Ortega said:"Let's put it this way, parang mas nagmamadali yung mga mas bata. They would not want to let the seasoned elders to continue or would rather that they be the ones to take over the positions that we are in."

 

Pacoy defended his decision to go against a relative in the May elections, saying "anybody who is qualified to run for a position is totally free to do so."  He also said that he loves and respects his uncles. 

 

The other candidates for the gubernatorial race are former provincial board member and ex-Malacañang official Henry Bacurnay and pastor Clark Arroño. — Virgil Lopez, BAP, GMA News