Pepero-Kiyu camp welcomes Tinian support

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez welcomed the support openly declared by the Tinian leadership, saying this is a big boost to his campaign with Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan leading to the Republican primary on Nov. 4.

“We appreciate very much the support of the Tinian leadership. We assure them that we can work together and I believe that’s the reason why they have thrown their support to us,” he told in an interview.

Tinian officials have come out in public to endorse the team-up of Pepero-Kiyu which is facing the camp of Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta and Rep. Diego T. Benavente in seeking GOP’s nomination as gubernatorial contender in the 2001 general elections.

According to Mr. Villagomez, the Pepero-Kiyu camp has always been supportive of the respective senatorial districts and has pledged to work towards the development of the entire Commonwealth.

He maintained they have established good relations with Rota and Tinian to assure them their concerns will continue to be address once they are elected into office.

“We have that respect and they have seen that our respect is genuine in that we are looking out for the interests of the Commonwealth as a whole,” said Mr. Villagomez.

The open primary is scheduled on Nov. 4, the winner of which is expected to face Democrats’ bet, former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja, and Reform Party stalwart, ex-Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.

Last week, Tinian Sen. David M. Cing expressed support for Pepero-Kiyu. He said if they are elected, it would ensure continuity of programs and services put in place by the Tenorio administration, noting that Tinian residents can benefit if existing programs are not disrupted with a change in leadership.

“We are going to win one hundred percent and the fact that we are supporting Pepero-Kiyu, definitely they are going to win,” said Mr. Cing.

Tinian Mayor Francisco M. Borja has earlier thrown his support, as have Rep. Norman S. Palacios and Sen. Jose M. Dela Cruz.

Tinian officials have decided to consolidate their support to one camp because “it’s always best for the people of Tinian to have a one-voice leadership,” said Mr. Dela Cruz.

Although they are Democrats, Mr. Cing said they declared their public support to Republican candidates because they don’t like the way the Babauta-Benavente camp is digging past issues concerning the Senate re-apportionment issue.

“The fact that the camp of Babauta-Benavente was responsible for putting out again those court documents when Pepero was still a senator and we went against each other on the re-apportionment… this is getting nasty already,” he said.

According to the senator, even his son who is working at the Washington Representative’s Office got involved because he was given the documents to pass onto others on Tinian.

“If I will be doing this strategy, I will reserve him as a last resort if in case I can’t find anybody else,” explained Mr. Cing, who added he never tells his son whom to support in the primary.