By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Atty. Rolex Tupas Suplico, former Congressman of the 5th District of Iloilo (1998-2007) and former Iloilo Vice-Governor (2007-2010) said that he has received messages, encouraging him to run for either Iloilo Provincial Board Member or 5th District or Partylist Congressman for 2022.
“I have calls from friends and supporters alike asking me to run for Board Member in the 5th District. I also received calls asking me to run for 5th District Congressman or as a Partylist Congressman,” Suplico said.
He explained that he told them that he has not yet fully recovered from the after-effects of COVID-19.
“While I have already tested negative in a swab test taken on July 10, 2021 while I was on my 16-day confinement at The Medical City Iloilo and is not anymore infectious, I still have COVID pneumonia,” he added.
“My coughing is down to minimum and tolerable levels,” Suplico said, “What I am very concerned with is my oxygenation rate of 93%. This is unstable. There is a tendency to go below 93%. My doctors tell me that a big percentage of those who had recovered from COVID-19 have to address these after effects. If uncheck, it can result to death by multiple organ failure when the oxygen level decreases to critical levels.”
Last week, Suplico revealed that there are sectors in Iloilo urging him to run either as Estancia Mayor or Iloilo Vice-Governor, which is a position he held from 2007-2010.
The former lawmaker said he wants to focus on his health and businesses in the meantime.
“As my health improves on a slow recovery from COVID-19 and COVID pneumonia, I shall consider my options for 2022. I have to be frank. There is really no need for me to run for a public office in 2022. I have an excellent law practice. I founded the law firm of Suplico, Austria & Marbella based in Makati City with my five UP College of Law classmates, where we graduated in 1989 and passed the 1989 Bar Examinations. Our practice ranges from the general practice of law, litigation, agrarian law, corporate law, labor law, telecom law, radio and TV broadcast law, franchise law and legislative franchises,” he said.
“The security agency I started a couple of years ago, Great Odysseus Security Ageny, Inc. or GOSAI has around 700 security guards nationwide. We hold security contracts for CityMall and MerryMart nationwide, Nickel Asia Corporation in BGC, Taguig City, solar farms in Subic, geothermal facilities in Biliran and in Oriental Mindoro and a nickel mine in Isabela Province, among others. Recently, GOSAI was awarded the exclusive security contract to supply guards to IKEA Philippines, which is building its world’s biggest store at the Mall of Asia Complex. We were selected from around 100 security agencies nationwide,” he added.
