LUBAO, Pampanga — Former Pampanga Senior Board Member Lilia “Baby” Pineda, a close ally of President Arroyo who lost to Governor Eddie Panlilio in 2007, will again try her luck for the province’s top position in the May, 2010 elections.

Pineda, who lost by merely 1, 174 votes to Panlilio that later led her to file an election protest against the priest-turned-governor before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), has announced her intention to run for governor.
Vice Governor Yeng Guiao, who earlier announced his gubernatorial bid, is giving way to Pineda by opting to seek reelection.

Guiao will serve as Pineda’s running mate under the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Guiao said Pineda decided to run again after majority of local officials urged her to continue her public service.

“Considering the long years of experience of Mrs. Pineda, she is very qualified to be the next provincial executive,” Guiao said.

Pineda served as municipal mayor of Lubao, the hometown of President Arroyo, and was later elected as a senior board member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Pampanga before she was challenged by Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial elections.

Meanwhile, Panlilio remains mum whether he would seek a higher post, return to priesthood, or again challenge Pineda.

Sen. Lito Lapid announced in September that he “would definitely run for governor” but was wooed by the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD to instead run as senator under the party’s ticket.

At present, political observers in the province are still waiting if Sen. Lapid’s son, former Governor Mark Lapid, would seek the gubernatorial post.
If the younger Lapid and the incumbent Panlilio would run, it would be a déjà vu as the three were the strongest contenders in the May, 2007 elections for Pampanga’s top post.