Nueva Ecija governor joins LP

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has joined the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

Umali took his oath before LP president Mar Roxas at the party’s headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City recently. He was one of three governors who took their oath as LP members, aside from North Cotabato Gov. Lala Talino-Mendoza and Quirino Gov. Junie Cua.

Umali’s entry into LP came eight months after 1,640 political leaders of Lakas-CMD in the province also joined the ruling party.

The governor is expected to be LP’s bet in next year’s elections, based on the equity of the incumbent rule.

Umali reunites with his former ally-turned political rival Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara and other provincial leaders, who had joined LP, including Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos, second district Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago and the governor’s wife, third district Rep. Czarina Umali.

Umali’s falling-out with Vergara, Aquino’s classmate, who is pushing for the conversion of Cabanatuan into a highly urbanized city, which the governor is opposing, is said to have delayed the governor’s entry into LP.

Glady’s Sta. Rita, LP national directorate director-general, said it took a while for the LP to accept the governor into its fold because of Vergara’s objections. “We have to iron it out first,” she said.

Meanwhile, more Bacolod City officials took their oath as members of LP before third district Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, LP Negros Occidental provincial chairman, at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel Friday.

They are Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar, Elmer Sy, and Catalino Alisbo; former Bacolod councilors Juan Ramon Guanzon, Ana Marie Palermo and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue; and broadcaster Marlon Solidum.                                                   – Manny Galvez, Danny Dangcalan