Ortega, Dumpit slug it out for LU governor

SAN FERNANDO City, La Union -- It’s a return bout between incumbent Gov. Manuel “Manoling” Ortega and former second district representative Tomas “Tom” Dumpit Sr. for the May 2010 gubernatorial post in La Union.

Dumpit filed his certificate of candidacy for governorship early Dec. 1 while Ortega filed 15 minutes before the Comelec provincial office closed.

Dumpit is running under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD while Ortega is under the banner of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

The two political roosters of La Union first fought in the gubernatorial race in 2007 but Ortega knocked down Dumpit with tens of thousands of votes based on election results.

But the former congressman, a retired general, never gave up and filed a protest nullifying the proclamation of Ortega due to alleged irregularities.

Meanwhile, incumbent second district Rep. Tomas “Butch” Dumpit Jr. and former Agoo mayor Dr. Eufranio “Frannie” Eriguel are also slugging it out this time one-on-one unlike in 2007 where there was a third candidate.

Butch is with his father’s party while Eriguel is under NPC.

Eriguel is being supported by nine of the 11 incumbent mayors in the second district.

In the first district, incumbent Rep. Victor Ortega of Lakas-Kampi-CMD is already sure of getting another term in Congress because he is being challenged by an independent and unfamiliar opponent James Paul Orros, who claimed to be a relative of the Ortegas.