CRANE-Caramoan

Former Manila Congressman Mark Jimenez is bidding to lead Aksyon Demokratiko, the party the late Bicolano Senator Raul Roco founded and headed, as he reenters Philippine politics after serving a three-year jail term in the United States.

Sources said that the multi-millionaire businessman had been seen with relatives of the late senator and were believed discussing the prospects of Jimenez joining and eventually leading the party.

Sonia Malasarte Roco, wife of Senator Roco, had announced she might run for senator while former Congressman Sulpicio Roco, Jr., a younger brother of the senator, has also disclosed his plan to run once again for congressman in the second district of Camarines Sur. Both would need a hefty campaign fund which Jimenez could easily provide.

Jimenez failed to finish his term as Manila congressman from 2001 to 2004 after he was extradited to the United States to face charges for tax evasion, illegal campaign contribution and other racketeering activities.

Should Jimenez decide to run in 2007 his candidacy may be questioned because he was accused of crimes involving moral turpitude, conviction for which is a ground for disqualification to run for public office under Philippine Laws, sources said.

Other political parties in the country are said to be reluctant to accommodate Jimenez because of his record of conviction.

CRANE MONITOR sources said Jimenez’ bid to lead Aksyon Demokratiko may be opposed by party bigwigs including Lorna Kapunan who was said to have almost single handedly expelled Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman from the party.

It will be recalled that Jimenez while still in the Philippines before the Philippine government acceded to the US government request to have him extradited kept denying charges against him. However, once in the custody of US authorities he promptly pleaded guilty to avail of a lighter sentence.

Meanwhile, Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella (3rd district, Camarines Sur) may face similar predicament as Jimenez after he was identified by US Assistant Attorney General Karl Buch as part of a conspiracy to gather information from Filipino-American intelligence analyst Leandro Aragoncillo to be used by opposition politicians in the Philippines.

Aragoncillo who was with the FBI had pleaded guilty for his role in the espionage plot.

Another Filipino in the United States, former PNP officer Michael Ray Aquino, who was also named participant in the spy case and who also pleaded guilty to a charge against him had also confessed having passed information to the Camarines Sur solon. Former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson had been also named as recipients of illegally sourced information.