‘Pangasinan NPC is 100% behind PNoy, but not LP’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan provincial board of canvassers adjourned Friday night, May 17, after completing the canvassing of results from 44 towns and 4 cities. 

The final tally shows re-electionist Gov Amado Espino Jr of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) getting 851,760 votes compared to Liberal Party candidate Hernani Braganza’s 297,760 votes.

Espino leads by a whopping 554,351 votes although it is lower than original party estimates that he will be ahead by 700,000 votes. In 2010, Espino also defeated his rival by about 500,000 votes. 

NPC also won in 4 of the total 6 legislative districts and in 33 of the 48 mayoral races. Re-elected Rep Gina De Venecia would have been the 5th NPC to win a House seat but she jumped over to Braganza’s camp during the campaign. The other LP House member is Baby Arenas. 

NPC walloped LP in Pangasinan but the local stalwarts of the President’s political party said the battle is not over. Carmela Fonbuena reports. 

The Nationalist People’s Coalition shows force in battleground Pangasinan proving to Malacañang that this vote-rich province is and will remain its territory.

NPC re-electionist Gov Amado Espino Jr clobbered Liberal Party candidate Hernani Braganza by half a million votes, trumping Braganza even in the city that elected him mayor.

HERNANI BRAGANZA, LP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

Plastic naman ako kung sinabi kong hindi ako malungkot. Ngengok naman ako… We were outsmarted, we were outmaneuvered in our respective localities and definitely outspent. Never ako bumili boto kasi.

 

NPC sweeps the elections. It keeps the Capitol. It takes 4 out of 6 legislative districts and mayoral races.

It was a heated gubernatorial race that rocked the coalition between LP and NPC at the national level. 

Braganza accused the NPC of massive vote-buying.

The NPC says Braganza and the LP used government machinery to make him win.

 

GOV AMADO ESPINO JR, RE-ELECTED NPC GOVERNOR

Dahil sa pagnanasa at sa pansariling kapakanan, ako at sampu ng aking kasamahan ay nilapastangan at sinirang puri.

 

MARK COJUANGCO, NPC PANGASINAN CHAIRMAN

Ang mga moves ng gobyerno kontra sa kandidato namin is by the head of the DILG… through the secretary and president ng LP on leave…. Hindi po kami nirespeto dito sa sarili naming lugar, sa saril naming lalawigan.

 

HERNANI BRAGANZA, LP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

It was made clear from the very beginning that as far as Pangasinan is concerned, there is no coalition in the local level…. There were a lot of issues in Pangasinan. We cannot just close our eyes.

 

Now that the elections are over, Espino said he is ready to forgive and forget.

GOV AMADO ESPINO JR, RE-ELECTED NPC GOVERNOR

We are very open to reconciliation to everybody, kalimutan na natin pagtutungali nitong election.

Hanggang nayon ang partido po naming andito ang gaming chairman, kami lahat na nanalo at natalo, sumusuporta kay Pangulong Aquino.

 

But Cojuangco made a distinction between the President and his party.

 

MARK COJUANGCO, NPC PANGASINAN CHAIRMAN

Doon sa relationship namin sa LP at kung anuman ang political plan nila sa 2016, malaki ang epekto nito. Gumawa sila ng maraming kaaway sa probinsiya. Marami na po ang ayaw sumama sa kanila sa 2016. Ang Pangasinan 100% behind program ni PNoy pero hindi sa LP.

 

But Braganza dismisses Cojuangco’s threat.

 

HERNANI BRAGANZA, LP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

 

Obvious naman wala sila intention. Ina-anticipate namin na Mark Cojuangco – not NPC – Mark Cojuangco will defy even NPC and will support other candidates come 2016.”

 

The result of the 2013 polls may be embarrassing for the Liberal Party, but more and more it is looking like a calculated risk.

 

OSCAR LAMBINO, LP PANGASINAN SPOKESPERSON

We’re happy we have gained higher foothold in many municipalities in the province. Our number has increased. 

2016 is already 3 years aways. We are hoping that in 2016 we will be luckier.

By all indications, the coalition between the Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance will stay. But it is temporary. 2016 will come and both parties will draw the line yet again in battleground Pangasinan. – Rappler.com