RETIRED Army Lt. Gen. Alberto ‘Boysie’ Braganza has denied any grand design to ‘militarize’ civilian elective positions in western Pangasinan with the reported plans, starting with him, of retired Army and police officers to run for public office.

Braganza denied that he is fielding retired police and Army officers to run as mayor in his district for them to help him in his congressional bid.

“That’s a misconception, a misnomer, it just so happened that some of the would-be candidates were former servicemen of the Armed Forces and Police from the western part of Pangasinan, he clarified.

He denied any grand design in what he called ‘purely coincidental’ development .

He said retired Police Superintendent Paul Tucay is bent on running for mayor of Bolinao while retired Coast Guard Admiral Elpidio Padama is reportedly interested to run for mayor of Burgos.

Braganza said that in his incoming fight for congressman of the first district or western Pangasinan he has the support of Gov. Agbayani.

In the last election, the brother of the governor, Luis, former mayor of Sual town, was defeated by incumbent Congressman Arthur Celeste in his first reelection bid. Celeste is a member of the Kabalilkat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPI) from Bolinao town.

Braganza took his oath recently as member of the administration’s party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

Braganza, whose last assignment was with the Southern Command in Mindanao as its commander, took his oath before Governor Victor Agbayani, Lakas-CMD provincial chairman, witnessed by Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, party provincial co-chairman.

The retired general hails from barangay Magalong, Mabini where his father Dominador, himself a retired army colonel, was undefeated mayor for 10 years.

Braganza is now doing the rounds in the towns in Mabini, Infanta, Dasol, Agno, Bolinao, Bani, Anda, Alaminos City and Burgos, places he used to operate in while still an army battalion commander in his younger days.

He said his uncle, Hernani Braganza, also became two-term congressman of first district and is now mayor of Alaminos City.

“You see, politics is in our blood,” he said.