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Senator Lito Lapid announced on Tue, May 12, that he wants his son, Mark Lapid, to replace him in the upper chamber after he steps down in 2016.
Lapid is set to leave the Senate next year after two consecutive six-year terms.
“Tatakbo sya, kahit independent, tatakbo ‘yan. At least, qualified naman talaga sya, talagang nag-aral eh (He’s going to run, even as an independent. At least he’s really qualified, he’s educated),” the senator said of his son’s bid.
He added that he will run for mayor of Angeles City under his local political party, Lingap-Lugod.
The younger Lapid, also a former actor, is currently the chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
He served as governor of Pampanga from 2004 to 2007 before being appointed to TIEZA by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He was reappointed to the post by President Benigno Aquino III in February last year.
TIEZA is the former Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), which was reorganized in 2009 via Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009. TIEZA is the main agency designating, regulating, and supervising tourism enterprise zones in the country.
The older Lapid said his son will run under Lakas party, but clarified that they are open to a coalition with other parties.
“Kung kukunin sya, kami naman nakabukas kami ‘ron (If they’re getting him as a candidate, then we’re open to the possibility),” said Lapid on the possibility of Mark running under the administration Liberal Party (LP).
He said neither the LP nor the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) have discussed the matter with them.
On the goings-on in Lakas, Lapid said he does not know if he is the vice president of the party.
Lapid said, “Vice president yata ako, kung nailagay akong vice ‘dun. Dapat kasi si Bong ang presidente ng LAKAS eh. Wala pang nagtatatawag eh. Pwede kaming makipag-coalition naman eh, ganyan naman talaga yan (I think I am the vice president, if that’s what they put there. Sen. Bong Revilla is supposed to be the president of Lakas. We haven’t gotten any calls yet. We can always be in a coalition, that’s usually how it is).”
Text: Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News / ABS-CBNnews.com
Photo: Detail from publicity photo for the movie Tatlong Baraha
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
