Fariñas son withdraws Laoag vice mayoral bid

By Teddy Molina

LAOAG CITY -- With barely three weeks more to go before the elections, a son of Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas has withdrawn from the vice mayoral race of this city.

Accompanied by his family and supporters, Carlos Fariñas went to the city election office Thursday to personally withdraw his certificate of candidacy for the city’s second top post, hoping his move would somehow ease his clan’s widening rift.

Fariñas’ withdrawal leaves the tightly contested vice mayoral race between his cousin, outgoing Mayor Michael Fariñas, and lawyer Christian Ablan, son of former congressman Roque Ablan.

Earlier, former Ilocos Norte governor Michael Keon, first cousin of Gov. Imee Marcos, also withdrew his bid for the city’s mayoral race.

This left the fight between the outgoing mayor’s wife, city barangay league president Shyville Fariñas, and her uncle-in-law, former three-term mayor Roger Fariñas, brother of Rep. Fariñas.