FVR’s town goes all-out for Gov. Espino

Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani (Extreme Left), her son, Ranjit Ramos-

Shahani and all three contending mayoral candidates of Asingan,

 home town of President Fidel V. Ramos, pledged their full support to

re-electionist Gov. Amado T. Espino (3rd from Right) in a ceremonial joining of 
hands during a meeting last Sunday,  the same day that the Ramos-Agsalud 
clan held its reunion.

Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, her son, Ranjit Ramos-Shahani and all three contending mayoral candidates of Asingan, hometown of former President Fidel V. Ramos, pledged their full support to re-electionist Gov. Amado T. Espino in a ceremonial joining of hands during a meeting last Sunday, the same day that the Ramos-Agsalud clan held its reunion.
 The same rare show of unity among opposing mayoral bets took place in the Alaminos City, the hometown of Braganza, last month on March 21.
 Based on recent survey, Governor Espino is leading with 90% voters in favor for his reelection, while his opponent, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza got only 8% of voters with only 2% of electorate still undecided.
 The expression of support to Espino coincided with the reported announcement made by former President Ramos endorsing the bid of nephew, Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, for governorship of Pangasinan. The twin events confirmed a widening chasm between two wings of the Liberal Party in this vote-rich province, with one wing loyal to the Shahanis withdrawing their support to LP standard bearer Braganza. Earlier, a news report had quoted Ranjit Shahani announcing that 13 LP mayoralty candidates in the province had signed a covenant of support to Espino.
 In response, Braganza called for an emergency meeting of the party and extracted statements from five mayoral candidates, mostly from western Pangasinan, allegedly affirming their loyalty to him.
 However, Shahani said those who originally signed the covenant of support to Gov. Espino had reaffirmed earlier commitment. Asingan is one of the eastern towns Pangasinan’s 6th district, known as the bailiwick of the Shahanis which is represented by Ranjit Shahani in the provincial board.