Zambales LP candidates junk Roxas, support Poe

ZAMBALES, Philippines – The entire slate of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in this province dropped standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II in favor of Grace Poe, but said they remain behind the party’s vice presidential and senatorial bets.

LP’s candidates for governor; for mayor, vice mayor, and councilor in 11 of the 13 cities and towns; and 7 candidates for provincial board member, said they were abandoning Roxas because he chose to support the entire slate of LP’s rival camp, led by reelectionist Governor Hermogenes Ebdane.

The following signed a 3-page manifesto on Thursday, declaring support for Poe:

Provincial board candidates:

• William Mandilag

• Eddie Misa
• Reynaldo Tarongoy
• Jobert Fallorin
• Saturnino Bactad
• Raedag Villamin
• Eloisa Lat

Mayoral candidates:

• Resty Viloria (Castillejos)
• Juan Alvez (San Antonio)
• Adonis Ramos (San Narciso)
• Jun Pangan (Cabangan)
• Rogelio Yap (Botolan)
• Ad Hebert Deloso (Iba)
• Milagros Guatlo (Palauig)
• Arsenyang Lim (Masinloc)
• Gilbert Hermoso (Candelaria)
• Angel Maestre (Sta. Cruz)
• Francisco Rosete Jr (San felipe)

Their candidates and vice mayor and councilor also signed the manifesto.

The local LP candidates, however, said they would deliver for LP vice presidential candidate Robredo and senatorial candidates as they did for President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.

The manifesto said that when Roxas recently raised the hands of the local LP’s political opponents, deliberately setting aside the party’s official candidates, was a “brutal insult to the long-time arduous crusade in seeking the ideals of ‘Daang matuwid’ and a vicious mockery of painful struggles and sacrifices.”

Gubernatorial candidate Amor Deloso – LP’s standard-bearer in Zambales since the time of President Aquino’s mother – said that his opponent whom Roxas endorsed has allowed anomalies and the destruction of the environment. He was referring to Ebdane, whom the residents accuse of allowing mining operations that have put communities at risk.

“That is an insult to the dignity of my people in Zambales. Kaya ako lumipat at suportahan ang alam kong may malasakit sa aking bayan and that is Sen. Grace Poe,” he said. (That’s why I am shifting allegiance and supporting someone who has compassion for the country.)

Villamin of the 2nd district said, “There was no support given to us by Liberal Party and instead Secretary Roxas endorses the whole slate of our political opponents.”

The signatories said Poe is untainted by mal intent and corruption, and will work for the progress of Zambales.

Robredo, they said, has shown herself to be completely worthy of trust, confidence, and loyalty. – Rappler.com