IN AN effort to let voters know about the respective platforms of provincial candidates, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) based here organized a candidates’ forum at the Janssen Pastoral Center here in Laoag City on May 3. The said forum, co-sponsored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), featured congressional, gubernatorial, vice-gubernatorial and Sangguniang Panlalawigan candidates with an aim to help voters select wisely in the coming elections. Each candidate was given time to present their views and concerns on government, socio-economic development, education, environment and sanitation, among others. The forum however was marred by the absences of several candidates including gubernatorial candidate Michael M. Keon and his principal backer outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Keon’s gubernatorial rival, former Ilocos Norte Governor Rodolfo C. Fariñas was present along with his three Sangguniang Panlalawigan bets, Renato Ma. R. Peralta and Lolita Reyes for the first district and Atty. Ferdinand Ignacio for the second district. Also present in the forum were congressional candidates Reynolan “Teteng Sales and Cesar Ventura. The third congressional bet, re-electionist Rep. Roque R. Ablan Jr. was also a no-show. The Marcos camp was represented by re-electionist Vice Governor Windell D. Chua and SP member Mariano V. Marcos II. Provincial board bets Kris Ablan, Antonio Raquiza Jr. and Dennis Ostrea of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, also attended the forum. The candidates were given the opportunity to deliver their opening speeches after which they were asked a series of questions by the panel representing the youth, media, the environment, religious and socio-economic sectors. Due to time constraints, the forum was scheduled only from 9 am to 12 pm, the candidates were only given a minute to reply to the panelists’ queries. After the forum, Bishop Sergio Utleg lamented the fact that not all candidates attended the forum saying the candidates who snubbed the said event may have no platform to present, or they no longer need the exposure. The forum was aired live by the Catholic radio station dzEA-CMN Laoag and SkyCable. According to Atty. Alipio Castillo, provincial election supervisor, all candidates were informed about the forum well ahead of time and they were disappointed that not all of them made it. Reports from the Keon camp said the gubernatorial candidate had an earlier commitment to campaign in Surong Valley, a remote area in Vintar, Ilocos Norte during the said date. Leilanie G. Adriano
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