Political bigwigs support De Vera for Prov’l Board

De Vera (2nd from Left) rubbed elbows with former rival and incumbent
Bayambang Mayor Ric Camacho (Extreme Left).

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – A political pundit here predicted that the chances of former Bayambang Mayor Leo de Vera Jr. to win a seat in the provincial board are bigger after other mayors endorsed him.
 The source who asked anonymity opined that Sta. Barbara Mayor Carlito Zaplan and Calasiao Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay have told media men that they give their unconditional all out support to De Vera – their former colleague in the League of Mayors in the Philippines   – Pangasinan chapter.
 “If they mean it then thanks. We will have a good show up in May 13 (2013) poll,” de Vera quipped when asked to comment about the support of the duo.
Huge tarpaulin with pictures of de Vera and Abono Party-list are posted boldly in some strategic locations of the towns where some people believed happened because of the imprimatur by the two political leaders. At the house of Calasiao Mayor Mark Macanlalay bundles of leaflets being sort out there showed that the Mayor and his reelectionist vice mayor father Roy included there the name of de Vera and Angel Baniqued Jr, for the race in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Despite the show of support, he said he does not want to be over confident to win the poll until the voters have cast their votes.
He would not say either that he will be No. 1 in Bayambang where he served as mayor for nine years, but said the people of Bayambang will not forget him because of a lot of significant projects that he implemented there. “Kinakausap ko iyong mga leaders, mga tao, at alam mo naman naging mayor nila ako for nine years. Siguro naman hindi nila ako pababayaan,” he said.
 The political spectator said de Vera’s rival reelectionist Board Member Generoso Tulagan Jr. will have a scare of his life after village chairmen showed their disenchantment of his leadership in the five towns of the third district.
 They said Tulagan has been giving them a run -around or cold shoulder whenever they visit him in his house or office. “Kung hindi nagpapakita sa mga chairmen, he kept promising them about financial aid or project. Iyong iba daw na kapitan niya iyong ibibigay dapat niya ( na projects) hindi daw makabayad sa pamasahe sa pabalik-balik nila sa bahay niya”
The source said de Vera and Angel Jr. the son of incumbent BM Angel Baniqued (an exiting solon) are the force to reckon in the May 13, 2013 poll. De Vera’s political armor in this poll has been harnessed to a higher level after the powerful chairman of Abono Party-list and perceived Pangasinan's political kingmaker Rosendo So throws his all-out support to him. When asked about if he was already prolific in his sorties in the villages of the district, de Vera quipped: Maganda naman, parati naman akong na i-invite tayo sa mga fiesta. Sa mga seminar ng mga teachers”.