Small-Town Mayor Says He Will Win vs. Arroyo Son

He said the P1 billion allotted for the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam could have built an entirely-paved road network in their district. "Or it could have rehabilitated the portion of the National Highway from our town to Quezon province."

He said he would also implement livelihood projects in the district, which ran parallel to Ragay Gulf, a rich fishing area. "I will push for making our district the bagoong (fish paste) capital of the country."

He said he was confident that his candidacy now would not repeat the losing streak of his elder brother three years ago. "We have learned enough. Unlike before when we relied only on a broad but loose coalition of people's organizations, we now had campaign leaders in all towns comprising our district.

Villafuerte support

He said he was also more confident now because of the support of Governor Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte to his candidacy.

Villafuerte was an erstwhile ally of Arroyo before the former abandoned the President's party and joined the camp of Senator Manuel Villar, standard bearer of Nacionalista Party, where Mabulo also belongs.

But he warned that the Arroyos could do everything to influence the ruling of the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the reapportionment of the original first district if he prevailed over Dato.

Victor Dennis Nierva, resident of this town, convenor of those who oppose the construction of Libmanan-Cabusao dam, and opinion columnist of this newspaper, predicted a hard-fought electoral contest between Mabulo and Arroyo.

"Dato has the sturdier machinery, while Fermin has the image of a fighter much like Abang (Sabas). Dato has his mother's unpopularity and other issues, Fermin has clout over municipalities. Dato has popularity, Fermin has LRay's blessing," said Nierva.

And although they share many things in common, Mabulo and Arroyo (both would turn 36 this year and both studied at Ateneo de Naga University) are out for a heated fight poised to be the microcosm of the 2010 electoral race in this province, which is projected to be battles between long shots and shoo-ins.