DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- The Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) is fielding Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, son of Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino, for the post of vice governor of Pangasinan.
The younger Lambino filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Wednesday at the Provincial Comelec Office as substitute candidate for retired Philippine National Police (PNP) officer Paterno Orduna, who filed his COC for vice governor last Oct. 15 but withdrew his candidacy on Tuesday due to health reasons.
He is running alongside gubernatorial candidate Arthur Celeste, incumbent mayor of Alaminos City in this province.
"The opportunity was presented and given to me and I took the challenge. Everyone is given a chance to serve in their own country, their own province, and substituting is one of the legal means to run for local office," stated the younger Lambino, whose lawyer-father is also the administrator and chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.
Lambino revealed he was the second nominee of Abakada Partylist. But the opportunity to serve Pangasinan was offered by Celeste, who convinced him the province needs young leaders, and his background fits well to the development agenda of Pangasinan.
Lambino's father (Secretary Raul Lambino) is a native of Pozorrubio town, while his mother Marilyn, is also running for mayor of Mangaldan. He is married to lawyer Melanie Sia-Lambino. His sisters, Mary Rhauline and Meryllainne Rhacquel (Rax), are both lawyers.
He said his vast experience in the public and private sectors will serve him well as he is not new to politics. He worked both in the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines.
He was Technical Consultant from June 2003 to July 2006 in the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representative; and in the Senate Committee on Public Services from September 2011 to December 2013. From July 2016 to September 2018, he was Executive Assistant in the Office of the PAGCOR chairman and CEO.
In the private sector, he worked as a public management consultant for various groups.
Lambino also presented to the media his academic background. He was an academic scholar at the Philippine Science High School-Diliman campus. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Geography at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He underwent post-graduate Management programs in the Asian Institute of Management and Institute of Small-Scale Industries at UP-Diliman, and his master’s degree in Public Management from Ateneo de Manila University, where he published a governance innovation report on "Understanding and Responding to Youth Unemployment."
When he filed his COC, Lambino was accompanied by his mother Marilyn, sister Rax, Celeste, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico III (who is running for fifth district congressman), and Darwina Sampang and Villasis Councilor Jan Louie Sison, candidates for Board Member at the third and fifth districts, respectively.
Meanwhile, Orduna explained why he withdrew his candidacy.
"I had a quadruple heart bypass operation four years ago. After I filed my COC, my son, Dr. Karlo Orduna, told me to consult my cardiologist. My cardiologist said I'm in good health, I'm physically fit. However, he cannot give his full assurance that my health will not be affected by the rigorous campaign. My children don't want my health jeopardized. Last Saturday, I had a meeting with Mayor Art and other leaders, and the consensus was that I should not put my health at risk. Anyway, we have a deep bench of other potential candidates for vice governor. I will still be active in the Team Celeste campaign," Orduna said. (PNA)
