“…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you…” –John 15:16

I am truly thankful to God and elated in extending congratulations to my brother-in-law, Acting Camarines Norte Vice Governor Joseph Christopher Panotes, who was installed last Tuesday. After earning the most votes and being elected senior provincial board member, with Vice Governor Jonah Pimentel currently contending with a disqualification case, my brother-in-law’s swearing-in was ordered by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.
His family has a long history in local politics with his father, Atty. Roger Panotes, previously topping the provincial board elections and later becoming a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention; his uncle, Elmer Panotes, also topped the provincial board elections before serving as a congressman; his grandfather, Wilfredo Panotes, Sr., served as governor; and his aunt, Marisol ‘Toots’ Panotes, won her third term in congress.
When my brother-in-law finished college, he found himself dragged into politics after being tapped to become a political officer former Tarlac third district Rep. Herminio Aquino during his vice presidential run in 2004. Following that stint, he ran for a seat on the town council of Daet, Camarines Sur and topped the polls that year. As the top councilor, there were many instances where he was designated presiding officer over the local legislative body; experience that will come in handy at his current post.
In 2016, he ran for mayor of Daet and lost.
During this year’s run for Provincial Board, his plea was to be favored “even with the scantiest attention” by the voters and ended up number one in the ballots. Thank God in His Name of Jesus, Amen!

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