NUP now a party; Pabling voted head

CEBU, Philippines - The National Unity Party is now a political party duly registered with the Commission on Elections while Deputy Speaker and Cebu 2nd district Rep. Pablo “Pabling” Garcia has been chosen as its chairman.

This was announced yesterday by Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon during the Provincial Development Council meeting at the Capitol.

Garcia confirmed that he was elected party chairman in an interim capacity as they have yet to convene and elect the officers after Congress goes into a session break next month.

Salimbangon said that the NUP is “the party of the coalition in Congress supporting the President and the Speaker of the House.”

He said the One Cebu party members can run in the 2013 elections without necessarily joining the ruling Liberal Party of the administration.

“The idea is to continue our support with the president and the speaker, for the program of the president without necessarily joining the Liberal,” Salimbangon said.

Garcia also said they will retain their membership in the One Cebu party headed by his daughter, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, but they are to coalesce with the LP.

Aside from Garcia and Salimbangon, other members in Cebu are representatives Pablo John “PJ” Garcia of the third district and Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of the sixth district.

Rep. Eduardo Gullas is with Nacionalista Party while Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano, VI is with Nationalist People’s Coalition.

There are 32 former members of Lakas-Kampi who have formed the new political party NUP who would continue supporting the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

The 32 congressmen-members of NUP comprised one of two Lakas-Kampi factions that supported Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s bid for Speaker.  (FREEMAN)