NPC Stalwarts Support Gov. Espino

Stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of Pangasinan led by the six Congressmen of the province and the Pangasinan-based Abono Partylist expressed their all out support to the re-election bids of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4th from left) and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr. (3rd from left) during a caucus meeting yesterday (September 27) at the residence of NPC Regional and Provincial Chairman Mark Cojuangco, a former congressman, (2nd from right) in Sison, Pangasinan.

 By Provincial Information Office 
LINGAYEN - Stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Pangasinan mapped out a bandwagon masterplan during a caucus meeting on September 27 in Sison Pangasinan in a bid to seal off victory at the polls for Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. who is seeking a third and final term. Led by former 5th district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, NPC Chairman of Pangasinan and Region 1, the party’s local leaders that include six Congressmen of the province and the Pangasinan-based Abono Partylist expressed their all-out support to the re-election bid of Gov. Espino and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr., and the entire NPC Provincial Ticket. Present during the meeting at the residence of Cojuangco were five incumbent Congressmen Jesus Celeste (1st District), Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District), Rachel Arenas (3rd District), Kimi Cojuangco (5th District) and Marlyn Agabas (6th District), together with Abono Partylist Chairman Rosendo So and former Cong. Conrado Estrella III.
Congresswoman Arenas is a Liberal Party member who supports the team of Gov. Espino while Congresswoman Gina De Venecia, an NPC member of the 4th District who was not in the meeting has also expressed her support to Gov. Espino. Some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan who joined the caucus later included Board Members Alfonso Bince, Salvador Perez, Jeremy Agerico Rosario, Raul Sison, Danny Uy, Von Mark Mendoza and Mojamito Libunao. “The meeting has sealed the support for Governor Espino to ensure another landslide win in the gubernatorial race this coming May 2013 elections,” BM Rosario said. Cojuangco, a son of corporate tycoon and NPC founding chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, said he expected most local leaders of Pangasinan to join the NPC bandwagon before the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy on October 5. With the majority of incumbent local officials – from the provincial level to the barangays – affliliated with the party, NPC is the dominant political group in Pangasinan. In a separate interview, Rep. Celeste doused off rumors that he had “distanced” himself from the governor. “This is pure black propaganda by the splintered opposition,” Celeste said, as he reaffirmed his “unflinching support” to Espino. “Yung isyu na nalaman ko na bumaliktad ako kay Governor Espino, walang katotohanan ‘yun. Magkasama po kami sa partido,” Celeste said during a press conrference at the El Pescador Resort, Bolinao, Pangasinan. Like Celeste, Rep Bataoil and other incumbent Representatives of other congressional districts, expressed “unconditional support” for Espino’s bid for a third and final term. “The members of the NPC Party have committed to work hard and campaign for the best interest of the party, and the province of Pangasinan with Governor Espino as the standard bearer for the gubernatorial race,” Bataoil said. With the NPC, Liberal Party (LP) and Nationalista Party (NP), being in a state of coalition and cooperation, Bataoil urged all concerned to respect the equity of the incumbent as we are all committed to serve our people in accordance with the plans and programs of the administration under President Benigno S. Aquino III, he said. (PIO)